Forest Park Review 121521

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ForestParkReview.com Vol. 104, No. 50

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Steep rise in COVID cases continues Page 6

DECEMBER 15, 2021

Village to pay $600K to settle civil rights suit

Lawsuit filed in 2018 accused village, officer of misconduct in fatal police shooting of Marco Gomez

By ANDY VIANO Editor

The estate of a Glendale Heights man shot and killed by a Forest Park police officer in 2017 will receive nearly $600,000 from the village’s insurer in exchange for dropping a blistering federal civil rights lawsuit that accused the village of, among other things, maintaining an environment that “encouraged the extrajudicial shooting of civilians.”

The Forest Park Village Council unanimously approved the settlement without commissioner comment or without disclosing the actual settlement amount itself during their regular Dec. 13 meeting.

The village clerk provided a copy of the settlement to the Review in response to a public records request the following day.

In the written settlement, the village makes no admission of guilt and “continue[s] to deny any and all fault, wrongdoing or liability,” stating that the decision to pay out $599,900 was made “merely to avoid the expenses and burden of further litigation in this matter.” An additional $100 was awarded to Gomez’s estate to maintain a confidentiality agreement.

See MARCO GOMEZ on page 6

ANDY VIANO/Editor

Dozens of members of law enforcement gather outside St. Bernardine Catholic Church before the funeral for Jose “Pepe” Flores on Dec. 14, 2021.

In just over a week, second officer dies Jose Flores, 46, found dead hours after funeral for Ofc. Nick Kozak

By ANDY VIANO Editor

Monday, Dec. 6, was supposed to be a day of healing for the Forest Park Police Department.

A little more than a week after the

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

sudden loss of veteran officer Nick Kozak, who died at his home in Villa Park several days after testing positive for COVID-19, much of the then 33-person department gathered at his funeral to say goodbye to their friend and colleague that morning.

Among them was Jose “Pepe” Flores, a well-liked officer who grew up in Forest Park. Flores had worked the overnight shift Sunday, Dec. 5 into Monday morning, and so after Kozak’s funeral he went home, likely to get some sleep, See JOSE FLORES on page 3

John Rice: Silence can be eloquent

One dead after Desplaines Ave. crash

PAGE 15

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Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

JOSE FLORES Officer died Dec. 6 from page 1 before returning for another overnight shift late that night.

When the 46-year-old Flores didn’t arrive for work or answer his phone, concerned officers went to his house, planning to rouse him from bed and get him started on his shift. Instead, when they arrived at his DuPage County home, they found their friend and colleague dead in his bed.

After going more than a decade without an active member of the department dying, Forest Park police had lost their second officer in just over a week. “[Kozak’s death] was new for us and hit everyone really heavy,” Deputy Chief of Police Chris Chin said. “After his passing it’s, all right, after the funeral, it’s time to rebuild.

Time to come out of this. And next thing you know Jose’s passed.”

So just over one week after Kozak’s funeral, hundreds of mourners, including a large law enforcement contingent, gathered again, this time at St. Bernardine Catholic Church on Tuesday, Dec. 14 for Flores’ funeral. Dozens of officers stood at attention as well-wishers filed into the church and what was expected to be a large procession prepared to escort Flores to his final resting place following the service.

Chin said he believed Flores’ death was from natural causes, although a final ruling on cause of death will be made by the county coroner. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office did not respond to a request for additional information.

Kozak’s death also remains under investigation, according to the coroner’s office.

The Villa Park Police Department would not release any information on Kozak’s death either, citing an ongoing investigation, although there is no indication foul play is involved.

The deaths have hit the department hard and Police Chief Ken Gross, who only ascended to the top job last month, said his staff is managing as best it can.

“It’s a very hard time for the police department,” Gross said. “We lost two people within a short time, both very good officers.

Jose was not just a friendly person; he grew up in Forest Park and was just a friend to many and a great policeman.”

Mayor Rory Hoskins, who said he got to know Flores and his now 8-year-old daughter through their involvement in youth soccer, saw Flores at Kozak’s funeral, just hours before his death. Hoskins, like everyone else interviewed for this story, said the 6-foot-6 Flores was an imposing presence but also warm, welcoming and respectful, even in contentious situations.

“It’s hard to say, sometimes you just like a person,” Hoskins said, when asked to describe Flores’ personality. “He wasn’t

particularly loud. He listened. He was just friendly; he would try to help people. He was a good guy who had good character.”

As they did after Kozak’s passing, grieving friends and colleagues have been eulogizing Flores on social media in the days after his death. Forest Park Firefighters Local 2753 said in a Facebook post that Flores “was not only the biggest person in real life but also [had] the biggest heart.”

“I never saw him without a smile on his face and he was always joking around with us,” the post continues. “The streets were always safer when he was working.”

According to an online obituary, Jose Flores was born in Peru and immigrated with his family to Forest Park as a teenager.

He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1994 and went on to earn an associates degree from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Flores spent 23 years with the Forest Park

JOSE “PEPE” FLORES

Police Department.

Hoskins said he met briefly with Flores’ parents, Teresa and Francisco Flores, who still live in Forest Park, when they were at the police department on Dec. 7.

Throughout that day, neighboring police departments also sent peer support officers as part of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to Forest Park to help the men and women of the department process the two sudden losses in such close succession.

The department also reached out to their inoffice social worker, and utilized a chaplain they have begun working with, to address the emotional toll the two deaths have taken.

“It was nice to see that mental health concerns are being addressed,” Hoskins said.

“Ken Gross was very pro-active in that regard.”

The department now has to deal with the logistical challenges presented by two sudden losses. Even before Kozak’s death, the department, which is budgeted for 38 officers, had 34 on staff. Now that number is 32, and as a result the village is taking both

short-term and long-term action.

“Our officers are working a lot of overtime,” Gross said. “We’re going to look at alternative shift scheduling, if need be, because I don’t want employee burnout.”

At its regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 13, the Forest Park Village Council approved the probationary hiring of three new police officers to fill the ranks following the two deaths and a scheduled retirement. The council unanimously approved the new hires and two related promotions. Previously, Hoskins told the Review that the village would also be considering lateral hires, meaning bringing experienced officers into the department rather than new recruits.

Gross, for his part, blamed “the media and politicians,” without offering specifics, for the department’s challenges when it comes to attracting new officers. He said the most recent round of applications to join the department was less than half of what they had seen previously.

“Given the events that happened in the U.S. in 2020 and the picture that was painted of the police, people don’t want this job,” Gross said. “We’re having a harder time filling spots because of the message that was sent by the media and politicians throughout the U.S.” Hoskins, meanwhile, took a softer approach, again reiterating his belief that Forest Park’s police perform their jobs admirably and should not be judged by the misdeeds of other officers in other departments. He asked the public to take a moment to appreciate and consider the human beings who are grieving right now.

“It’s really sad. I don’t think we’ve ever experienced the loss of two police officers in such a short time, so we’re all coming together. Everyone’s going to continue to do their jobs, obviously, but it’s tough,” he said.

“I would say to the wider community that if they have the opportunity to express a kind word to a police officer … I would encourage the community to wrap its arms around the Forest Park Police Department,” Hoskins added.

When the village council gathered on Dec. 13, several commissioners also took the opportunity to offer their condolences.

“The holiday season for most of us is a time of joy, giving and happiness. But for the Kozak family and the Flores family, the last few weeks and probably for the weeks to come are anything but,” Commissioner Ryan Nero said. “May all those whose hearts were touched by these officers find comfort during this grieving process and may all of them keep their spirits alive in our hearts and our thoughts and prayers, through the holiday season and beyond.”

“It’s a profound loss for the town as a whole,” Commissioner Maria Maxham, a former Review editor, said. “[Kozak and Flores] had devoted many, many, many years to protecting this town and caring about it and loving it. It’s a huge loss for everybody.”

F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Editor Andy Viano Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Digital Publishing & Technology Manager Briana Higgins Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

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Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

C R I M E

Supervisor pulls gun, shouts ‘Who’s the b---h now?’

A security supervisor allegedly pointed a gun at a fellow security guard in the parking lot of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line station at 711 Desplaines Ave. just after midnight on Friday, Dec. 10.

A witness called 911 and told Forest Park police that two people were arguing “about time” before a woman shouted that the man had a gun. The witness said they saw the man, later identified as a CTA security supervisor, holding a gun while walking to his vehicle.

The woman involved in the incident initially left the scene but returned to talk with police and said she works as a security guard, and that she and her supervisor have “ongoing issues.” At the end of her shift on Dec. 10, she said the supervisor refused to sign her time sheet, saying “she did not deserve the hours she worked.” The pair then began to argue, and the woman relayed to police that she told her supervisor he “needed to stop acting like a b---h.”

They then briefly separated and went to their respective vehicles before the supervisor reportedly re-emerged with the gun and repeatedly said, “Who’s the b---h now?”

On scene, the supervisor told police he did not pull a gun on the woman and said there was probably a “play gun” in his vehicle.

An officer found a BB gun in the vehicle’s trunk.

In a second interview, the supervisor, a 34-year-old Chicago man, again denied that he pulled his weapon. He has been charged with aggravated assault, according to a police report.

A man with a license to carry a concealed weapon told police he only grabbed his gun because another man pulled a gun on him first during a road rage incident on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The incident began a little after 10 p.m. when a driver exited Interstate 290 and started driving southbound on Harlem Avenue. A second driver, in a black Chevrolet Malibu, was apparently “driving slowly” next to the first driver on Harlem and would not let him pass.

Collision between box truck and sedan on Desplaines killed car’s driver Editor

One person was killed in a violent head-on collision on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in the 1600 block of Desplaines Avenue, a crash that ended with a car engulfed in flames and the road shut down well into the evening.

Chris Chin, deputy chief of the Forest Park police, said a box truck and sedan crashed head-on on Desplaines Avenue near the intersection with Greenburg Road around 4 p.m. The sedan, a 2019 Chevrolet Impala, caught fire after the crash, Chin said, and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the Impala at the time of the crash.

The driver and sole occupant of the box truck was transported to the hospital in stable condition, according to

Miniature poodle bites man

Guns drawn during road rage dispute

One dead after fiery head-on crash

By ANDY VIANO

distress. Train employees called police when the witness lowered the man to the ground.

Officers recovered a clear baggie “containing residue of an off-white powdery substance” from the train.

a police department press release.

Desplaines Avenue was closed for several hours the afternoon of the crash, Chin said, and did not open until around 11 p.m. as an accident reconstruction team from the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (WESTAF) conducted its investigation. Chin said it appeared the sedan crossed the roadway’s center line before the crash.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office had not identified the person killed in the crash as of Dec. 13.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or can provide any additional information is asked to contact the Forest Park Police Department’s criminal investigations division at 708-366-2425 or by email at detectives@ forestpark.net.

When the two vehicles reached the intersection of Harlem and Roosevelt Road, and the first vehicle started to make a right turn, the driver of the Malibu allegedly cut the first driver off, flipped him the bird, and rolled down his window to show a silver handgun.

At that point, the first driver said he grabbed his own gun and showed it, before the Malibu sped away on Harlem.

No arrests were made.

A small dog allegedly bit a man on Thursday, Dec. 9.

The Forest Park Police Department was dispatched to the 1000 block of Desplaines Avenue just after 10 a.m. and spoke with a man who said he was doing some work at the property and moving equipment to an elevator when a leashed dog allegedly bit him on his lower left leg.

The dog’s owner said their son was walking the dog at the time of the alleged bite.

The dog, a small, 12-year-old, black-andwhite, miniature poodle, is reportedly up to date on its vaccinations.

The man who was bitten did not require medical attention and asked that the dog’s owner not be cited. No citations were issued.

Woman claims money a gift, not Blue Line squabble ends in punch extortion A man accused of punching a woman in A woman pre-emptively called the Forest Park police because she believed a man who gave her $2,000 as a gift was going to accuse her of stealing the money.

According to a police report filed on Sunday, Dec. 12, the woman said she met the man on the chat app Tango and, over a threemonth period, the man had sent her $2,000, unsolicited, and that she told him she was not interested in a romantic relationship.

When the man continued to pressure her into a romantic relationship and she continued to refuse, the woman said he then threatened to file a police report and tell law enforcement that the woman “was extorting money from him.”

The woman deleted her Tango account.

Man dies after collapsing on Blue Line train A 37-year-old man died after being found “unresponsive” on a Blue Line train when it pulled into the Desplaines Avenue station on Saturday, Dec. 11.

First responders pulled the man from the train aisle to the station platform around 1:45 p.m. and attempted to render life-saving aid. The man was later transported to a local hospital, where he died.

A witness told police that when he got on the train, he saw the man “slumped over” in his seat and believed the man was in

the head on a CTA Blue Line train told police that a fight did occur, but only after he told the woman to stop throwing food on the floor.

According to a Forest Park Police Department report, officers were dispatched to the Blue Line station at 711 Desplaines Ave. around 12:45 a.m. on Dec. 6. They were met there by a woman who told them a man “hit her in the back of the head with a closed fist.”

When he was interviewed by law enforcement, the alleged attacker told police he and the woman were sitting on the same train car when the woman began throwing food on the ground. He said that when he asked her to stop, a shouting match ensued, and the pair traded obscenities before a “physical altercation” took place.

The woman did not suffer any obvious injuries and declined medical attention at the scene.

The pair was separated for the night. No one was arrested.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Dec. 6-12, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime.

These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Andy Viano

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

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LEGAL NOTICE DATE 11/16/21

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF CONDITION 07-ILL 10-MOTOR 03-GARBAGE MUNICIPAL Fuel Tax FUND RETIREMENT FUND FUND

01-GENERAL FUND Beginning Fund Balance Retained Earnings Revenues Expenditures Sources Uses Ending Fund Balance Retained Earnings

Beginning Fund Balance Retained Earnings Revenues Expenditures Other Financing Sources Uses Ending Fund Balance Retained Earnings

15-ROOSEVELT ROAD TIF FUND

11-CDBG FUND

$2,021,181.71 $15,946,944.41 $15,884,187.50 $.00 $.00

$166,375.54 $687,732.06 $688,396.63 $.00 $.00

$201,359.03 $277,018.42 $269,524.32 $.00 $.00

$1,394,598.43 $561,732.07 $865,079.96 $.00 $.00

$21,471.55 $215,112.00 $309,514.42 $.00 $.00

$2,983.983.62

$165,710.97

$208,853.13

$1,161.170.54

($72,930.77)

$4,213,618.61

17-27TH/23RD ST. AVE TIF FUND

18-17TH AVE NORTH TIF

30 DEBT SERVICE FUND

40 CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

16-22ND/17TH AVE TIF Beginning Fund Balance Retained Earnings Revenues Expenditures Sources Uses Ending Fund Balance Retained Earnings

Village of Broadview ANNUAL TREASURER’S REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 04/21

$.00 $.00 $.00 $.00 $.00

$.00 $.00 $.00 $.00 $.00

$.00

$.00

($78,617.35)

($72,479.68) $13,030.29 $19,167.96 $.00 $.00 $24,493.11

$1,375.727.52

50-WATER AND SEWERAGE FUND

61-FIREMEN’S PENSION TRUST FUND

62-POLICE PENSION TRUST FUND

$4,237,009.98 $3,751,223.86 $3,439,856.96

$21,218,529.00 $7,773,193.00 $2,869,797.00

$28,711,476.00 $8,663,015,00 $2,836,880.00

$.00 $.00

$.00 $.00

$4,548,376.88

$26,121,925.85

REVENUE SUMMARY: PROPERTY TAXES – GENERAL FUND $2,536,671.94 – PROPERTY TAXES – FIRE PROTECTION $594,494.06 – PROPERTY TAXES – STREET & BRIDGE $218,738.53 – PROPERTY TAXES – LIABILITY INS $425,268.42 – PROPERTY TAXES – FIRE PENSION $1,782,570.57 – PROPERTY – TAXES – POLICE PENSION $1,213,171.38 – PROPERTY TAXES – AUDITING $47,817.26 – PROPERTY TAXES – POLICE PRTCTN $594,494.04 – SALES – TAXES $4,040,290.27 – UTILITY TAX – ELECTRIC $520,675.80 – UTILITY TAX – GAS $144,188.92 – UTILITY TAX – TELEPHONE $224,581.10 – CABLE SERVICES $111,457.39 – VIDEO GAMING TAX $46,810.78 – AUTO RENTAL TAX $142.08 – USE TAX $282,648.58 – STATE INCOME TAX- – $520,569.81 – REPLACEMENT TAX $542,490.68 – LIQUOR LICENSES $34,200.00 – BUSINESS LICENSES $97,391.70 – VEHICLE LICENSES $131,393.80 – DOGS AND CATS TAGS $1,225.00 – NSF CHARGE $300.00 – CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION $29,750.00 – BUILDING PERMITS – $677,631.93 – ELECTRICAL PERMITS $52,933.25 – PLUMBING PERMITS $79,202.30 – SITE PLAN APPLICATION FEE $300.00 – OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS $93,054.38 – BLDG – TRANSFER FEES $23,450.00 – ZONING FEES $1,700.00 – OTHER PERMITS $50.00 – HEALTH INSPECTIONS – $10,812.50 – TRAFFIC FINES $215,630.60 – PD ADJUDICATION $11,935.00 – POLICE DEPT COMPLIANCE VIOLATION $9.50 – BLDING DEPT CODE – VIOLATIONS $40,985.32 – IMMOBILIZATION $57,035.00 – SPECIAL USE FEE $1,900.00 – PW DEPT MISC REVENUES $20,496.17 – GARAGE SALES- – PERMIT FEE $212.80 – HOSPITAL

19-19TH AVE TIF FUND $68,346.17 $86,323.13 $130,176.96 $.00 $.00

$3,568,688.75 $955,251.24 $310,321.38 $.00 $.00

$1,717,255.39 $1,941,355.46 $2,282,883.33 $.00 $.00

($126,109.33) $568,511.80 $744,973.27 $.00 $.00

(302,570.80)

$.00 $.00 $34.537.612.00

MEDICAL BILLINGS $112,422.48 – LOYOLA-HOSP MEDICAL $187,658.72 – HINES-HOSP MEDICAL $45,050.00 – FIRE – SUPPRESSION SERVICES $27,740.90 – LOYOLA-FIRE SUPPRESSION $83,617.44 – HINES-FIRE SUPPRESSION $5,000.00 – MADDEN-FIRE SUPPRESSION – $10,500.00 – AMBULANCE CHARGES $1,087,508.57 – INTEREST INCOME $7,503.83 – INTEREST INCOME-AUXILARY PUB WKS $633.54 – REIMBURSEMENT- – OF VILLAGE EXPENSE $229,466.90 – GRANT FUNDS REC’D – ILLINOIS $1,362,479.12 – POLICE MISC. REVENUE $157,818.93 – POLICE OVERTIME- – REIMBURSEMENT $5,911.50 – OPERATING TRANSFERS IN $70.00 – ALARM SYS REBATES $14,783.33 – RENTAL INCOME $11,480.00 – VACANT BUILDING – REG $3,925.00 – TOWING AND STORAGE $163,879.00 – SALE OF VILLAGE PROPERTY $193,367.24 – FIRE DEPT MISC REVENUES $75,480.26 – MISCELLANEOUS $1,918.75 – RUBBISH BILLINGS $650,596.25 – PENALTIES $56,548.97 – MOTOR FUEL TAX (STATE) $258,934.89 – NEW DEBT- – ISSUANCE – BONDS $1,050,000.00 – WATER TOWER RENTERS $38,500.00 – WATER SALES $3,232,194.93 – SEWERAGE CHARGES $352,411.33 – WATER- – METER SALES $3,050.00 – ADMIN FEE – SHUT OFF LIST $10.00CR – TOTAL REVENUES: $24,859,122.74.

EXPENDITURE SUMMARY: 1-800MD, LLC $3,906.00 – ADMIN. CONSULTING SPECIAL $21,500.00 – AERO REMOVAL SERVICE $5,250.00 – AIR ONE- – EQUIPMENT, INC. $42,694.76 – ALFRED G. RONAN, LTD. $44,000.00 – ALPHA PRIME COMMUNICATION $5,301.28 – AL WARREN OIL CO., INC.- – $90,884.24 – ARTISTIC

ENGRAVING $3,587.50 – ASSOCIATED TECHNICAL SERV $5,043.00 – AT&T $173,735.19 – BACKDRAFT OPCO, LLC $2,823.00- – B&F CONSTRUCTION CODE SER $139,626.11 – BLACKBOARD, INC. $4,664.63 – BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF $1,887,019.16 – BROADVIEW FIRE- – PENSION $43,889.40 – BROADVIEW POLICE PENSION $29,813.88 – BROADVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY $75,412.99 – BROADVIEW TRUE VALUE HARD- – $8,568.08 – BROADVIEW-WESTCHESTER JOI $2,663,274.58 – BUDDY BEAR CAR WASH/GAS P $2,575.00 – BUILDERS PAVING LLC $507,932.67 -- – BUILDER SUPPLY OUTLET $8,335.95 – CARGILL, INC. $63,095.61 – CARMEN ORTIZ $2,500.00 – CASE LOTS, INC. $4,585.54 – CDS OFFICE- – TECHNOLOGIES $19,620.00 – CHARLES F BRUCKNER & SON, $29,558.00 – CHICAGO COMMUNICATIONS LL $3,376.80 – CINTAS CORPORATION $2,520.11- CLIMATEMP SERVICE GROUP, $11,761.50 – COMED $50,095.72 – COMCAST $19,617.24 – COOK COUNTY DEPT. OF PUBL $3,700.00 – C.O.P.S.- – TESTING SERVICE $29,351.98 – TECHNOLOGY MNGMT REVOLVIN $16,235.19 – COMMERCIAL TIRE SERVICE $6,879.99 – GROOT, INC. $529,541.46 – CYNTHIA MCGOWN $2,500.00 – DAVIS BANCORP, INC. $3,454.00 – DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE C $22,744.85 – DEL GALDO LAW GROUP, LLC – $239,320.56 – DELL MARKETING L.P. $3,671.57 – DINGES FIRE CO. $4,995.34 – DONALD BERO $3,204.00 – DOROTHEE MCGRIER $2,500.00 – ECO- – CLEAN MAINTENANCE, IN $30,048.00 – EDWIN HANCOCK ENGINEERING $642,874.46 – EDWARD IVORY $2,500.00 – EJ EQUIPMENT

We are Open!

$10,425.00 -- – ELECTRICAL RESOURCE MGMT. $5,090.19 – EMPLOYEE RESOURCE SYSTEMS $2,520.00 – ETHEL WILSON $2,500.00 – FERGUSON FACILITIES SUPPL- – $4,344.00 – FIRE SERVICE, INC. $16,961.28 – FOX VALLEY FIRE & SAFETY $4,319.37 – GASAWAY DISTRIBUTORS, INC $5,639.04 – GINO’S- – HEATING & PLUMBING $419,190.00 – GLENDA JACOBS $2,500.00 – GRASSO GRAPHICS, INC. $23,746.79 – AIRGAS USA, LLC $3,896.90 – GREGORY- – SKIPPER $2,500.00 – GWENDOLYN RICHMOND $2,500.00 – CORE & MAIN LP $24,643.19 – HEALTH ENDEAVORS, SC $9,197.50 – HERITAGE BROADVIEW,- – LLC $129,932.54 – H&H ELECTRIC COMPANY $12,640.66 – HILDEBRAND SPORTING GOODS $2,540.00 – HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICE $6,302.04 -- – HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICE $8,016.12 – COOK COUNTY BUREAU OF TEC $2,840.06 – ILLINOIS COUNTIES RISK MN $708,386.50 – INNOVATIVE- – GARAGE DOOR CO $2,821.50 – ISSAC MOBLEY $2,500.00 – JAMES HOWARD $3,204.00 – CLAUDIA HUMMEL $3,204.00 – LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INS- – $88,368.38 – CURRIE MOTORS $37,350.69 – J & H PROPERTY MANAGEMENT $259,000.00 – JJ EFFECT, INC. $6,568.45 – JKS VENTURES, INC.- – $3,106.00 – J NARDULLI CONCRETE, INC. $568,444.10 – JOHN MOLINARO CARPETS $8,100.00 – JOHN R RODGERS $3,204.00 – JOSEPH L. PONSETTO- – $19,205.00 – KEITH CALDWELL $6,285.00 – K-FIVE HODGKINS, LLC $11,002.75 – KONICA MINOLTA PREMIER FI $9,946.44 – KONICA MINOLTA- – BUSINESS $8,055.53 – LAUTERBACH & AMEN, LLP $2,700.00 – LAW OFFICES OF PHILIP M. $116,287.21 – LA-Z-BOY GALLERY $4,395.94 – LEGACY- – FIRE APPARATUS $8,211.70 – LEVELL CONNOR $2,500.00 – LOCIS $6,460.00 – MABAS DIV 20 $6,000.00 – MARKHAM REAL ESTATE $28,337.34 -- – MARIA WILLIAMS $2,500.00 – MATRIX COATING SOLUTIONS $6,800.00 – MATCO TOOLS $4,387.46 – MC ADAM LANDSCAPING $5,385.00 – MEADE, INC.- – $5,690.00 – MECA TREE SERVICE, INC. $16,520.00 – MERCURY SYSTEMS CORP. $5,179.38 – MID AMERICAN WATER $38,293.05 – MIDCO SYSTEMS- – $9,782.00 – MINER ELECTRONICS CORP. $15,827.01 – MONTANA & WELCH, LLC $67,342.97 – MURPHY’S CONTRACTORS EQUI $4,807.88 – NATIONAL- HOSE TESTING SPE $3,697.00 – NORTH EAST MULTIREGIONAL $3,880.00 – NEWEGG BUSINESS, INC. $3,066.92 – NICOR GAS $12,963.65 – NORCOMM – PUBLIC SAFETY COM $4,660.00 – OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTE $3,059.04 – OFFICE DEPOT $6,023.98 – O’REILLY AUTOMOTIVE, INC. $8,977.60 – OTTOSEN DINOLFO $15,736.50 – WINDSTREAM $49,681.31 – PARAMEDIC BILLING SERVICE $11,374.13 – PARAMOUNT RESTORATION GRO $6,396.50 – PAYLOCITY $10,987.04 – PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGIES EQ $17,064.50 – PITNEY BOWES PURCHASE POW $25,504.78 – PITNEY BOWES GLOBAL FIN.- – $3,456.00 – PITNEY BOWES, INC. $8,675.05 – POLICE LAW INSTITUTE $3,095.00 – POLLARDWATER $2,746.83 – PRINTING ARTS $2,654.70 – PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECT, INC $7,351.38 – PUROCLEAN OF OAK PARK $19,221.87 – QUICKET SOLUTIONS $26,125.00 – RAY O’HERRON CO., INC.- – $15,376.53 – REGINA JACKSON $2,500.00 – ROBERT HANNAH $2,500.00 – VILLAGE OF ROMEOVILLE FIR $15,915.00 – ROSCOE $4,394.53 – RUSSO’S – POWER EQUIPMENT, $5,490.82 – SAM’S CLUB $3,694.38 – SARGE’S RANGE SERVICE, IN $8,968.00 – AT&T LONG DISTANCE $4,297.70 – SEAN – HOWERY $2,500.00 – SHRED-IT, c/o STERICYCLE, $4,494.56 – SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY $6,409.82 – SPECIAL T UNLIMITED $2,759.50 – SPECIALTY MAT SERVICE $7,680.40 – STAPLES $10,562.93 – STATION AUTOMATION, INC. $2,595.90 – STERLING CODIFIERS AMER. $4,926.00 -- – STP TRANSPORT $36,418.00 – STRYKER SALES CORP. $3,958.12 – SUBURBAN ACOUSTICAL CORP.

Summary Statement Of Compensation – Under $25,000 DALTORIO GIANNI, ATCHISON TANNER, LATHAM SHANNON, GRAF MICHELE, BROWN SHIRLEY, JIHAD-BAAREE AYESHA, STARLING-BITOY LAVETTE, DIGIN SEAN, GREVE JAKE, BARBER WESLEY, JONES MICHEAL, MCGRIER KEVIN,WEBB CHARLES, BERAN TIMOTHY, ABRAHAM JUDY,HENDERSON JAMES, MILLER JUDY, SENIOR ANDREA, HORNE VERINA, JONES SHERMAN, TIERNEY JOHN, CANNON JAMES, ROBINSON CHARISMA, CALDWELL TIMOTHY, PIOTROWSKI KYLE, CHRISTOPHER JUSTIN, HALL CLIFTON, BRONAUGH AUDREY Between $25,000 and $49,999 CURRY DAVID, BUCHANAN GREGORY, MURPHY KRISTINE, HUDSON SANDRA, SIERRA SOBEIDA, DELK TIARA, YARRINGTON KASSANDRA, KNOBLOCK EDWIN, BOKUS COLE, BUCHANAN YARA, SMITH DANIEL, WILLIMAS PATRICIA, HOOD THOMAS, MACK SHANELLE, SHISHKOFF JOHN Between $50,000 and $74,999 BRICHTA ZACHARY, GLENN JEFFREY, PAJEWSKI MARK, SANTUCCI JENNIFER, GREEN JAY, RADASZEWSKI LINDY, PAOLONI MELISSA, REYES FRANCISCO, LANZIROTTI DUNCAN, MULLIGAN JAMES, TOLEDO JOSE, GENER GILMAR, NEWTON JAKE, ALBRITTON JR RAYMOND, JONES TERRANCE, THOMPSON KATRINA, JONES LETISA, AMES JASON, BUSH SPANISH Between $75,000 and $99,999 SANTUCCI ANTONIO, SCHIEVER RYAN, GALVAN GUSTAVO, AMES MATTHEW, GRZYMKOWSKA BEATA, SIGARROSTEGUL CARLOS, SCAFIDI MARTIN, UPSHAW DAVID, LATELLE ROBERT, NAPOLI VINCENT, FABISZAK RYAN, STEVENS ALEC, DINEFF ALEC, MATHEW TONY Between $100,000 and $125,000 WAGNER KEVIN, KOSTKA THOMAS, BARTOLOTTE ROBERT,HOADLEY JONATHAN, MARBACH JOSEPH, KURTZNER PAUL, AKIM MICHAEL, SCHAER CHARLES, LARSON STEVEN, McGIVNEY PATRICK, GRIMM SCOTT, CLAYTON RICHMOND ,McMAHON NEIL, SCHAER STEVEN,YURKOVICH DAVID, FLORENTINO IAN,SMITH PIERRE, SANTOS JOSE,KLAMER KENNETH, RUIZ-RANGEL ALFONSO, FLANNERY THOMAS, MAC DOUGALL ALEXANDER, CARLSON MICHAEL, TORRES MARK, TRINER CORY, COHEN DAVID, CONFORTI DANIEL, SANCHEZ JORGE,DAVIS ERIC Over $125,000 EUGLING KEVIN, KENNY TRACY ,ARMSTRONG JOHN, THOMA NED, SCHODTLER NICHOLAS, MONKS ANTHONY

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$7,500.00 – TACTICAL FIRE EQUIPMENT, $4,618.13- – - TARGETSOLUTIONS LEARNING, $3,146.00 – TESKA ASSOCIATES, INC. $8,442.50 – THIRD MILLENNIUM $7,466.73 – TIERPOINT, LLC $26,554.27 -- – TIMOTHY CALDWELL $4,968.00 – TIMOTHY J HICKS, CPA $56,750.00 – TIMOTHY & LESLIE NOEL $2,500.00 – TNT TOWING & RECOVERY, IN- – $28,510.00 – TRANE US, INC. $34,870.30 – TRANSAMERICA RETIREMENT S $3,373.46 – TREASURER, STATE OF ILLIN $178,637.70 – TRIPLE CROWN- – PRODUCTS $5,286.27 – TRIGGI CONSTRUCTION, INC. $308,200.36 – UNIFIRST $12,744.96 – VALOR SYSTEMS, INC. $28,348.00 – VANESSA- – ELLINGTON $2,500.00 – VERIZON WIRELESS $29,644.46 – VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD $3,000.00 – BAKER TILLY US, LLP $45,892.50 – WEST COOK- – COUNTY SOLID WA $155,360.79 – WEST CENTRAL MUNICIPAL CO $11,749.16 – WEST REGIONAL ENTERPRISE $10,000.00 – WESTFIELD FORD, INC.- – $2,981.51 – WILLIAM RADKIEWICZ $7,654.94 – ZEIGLER FORD NORTH RIVERS $3,040.45 – ZOLL MEDICAL CORP. $27,068.25 – All other- – Disbursements Less Than (2500 ) $166,518.98 – TOTAL VENDORS: $11,917,661.99.

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6

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

Steep rise in COVID cases continues in Forest Park Virus surges even as vaccination rates climb at rates higher than state, county

By ANDY VIANO Editor

For the second consecutive week, the number of new COVID-19 infections in Forest Park rose dramatically as the village experiences the greatest prevalence of the deadly virus since the pandemic’s peak last winter.

New case numbers in Forest Park remain concerning, with a 154% increase in new positive tests in the last 14 days, as of Dec. 13. That follows a 155% increase in new cases over the prior 14 days during the previous reporting period. Forest Park continues to log new COVID-19 cases at a greater per capita clip than the rest of suburban Cook County, even as the village’s vaccination rate remains strong.

There are, however, some signs that the latest surge may be waning. As of Dec. 12, the rolling seven-day average for new cases per day was 6.7, down slightly from a week earlier, and the case positivity rate in Forest Park — the measure of how many tests for COVID-19 come back with a positive result — dipped to 2.37%, according to zip codespecific data compiled by Northwestern Medicine. Earlier this month, Forest Park’s positivity rate was more than twice that.

Still, the 56 new cases in Forest Park for the week prior to Dec. 13 indicates the kind of prevalence not seen since last November and December, what had been the height of the pandemic in suburban Cook County, ac-

MARCO GOMEZ Village settles for $600k from page 1 The settlement must still be approved

by Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan, although she has been kept abreast of settlement discussions in recent weeks, according to online court records.

The case was initially filed in February 2018 by Daisy Perez, Marco Gomez’s sister, on behalf of her brother’s estate. An amended complaint filed in August 2018 named the village of Forest Park and police Officer Daniel Miller, the man who fired the fatal shot, as defendants, and claimed that Miller shot Gomez “without lawful justification” and that Gomez was “unarmed and presented no immediate threat” when he was killed.

According to the estate, 26-year-old Marco Gomez was driving a Volkswagen Jetta near Jackson Boulevard and Harlem Avenue in Forest Park on Feb. 3, 2017, at around 6 p.m., when Miller approached the car on foot. The vehicle had been reported stolen.

In Illinois, just 65.6% of residents have one dose but 59.4% are fully vaccinated. The state has also administered more than 2.4 million booster doses, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine should get a booster shot six months after their second dose, and recipients of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be boosted two months after their shot. Booster shots are available at several local pharmacies

and medical offices.

School District 91 in Forest Park also announced it will be hosting a second vaccine clinic at Grant White Elementary School, 147 Circle Ave., on Thursday, Dec. 23 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. That clinic will offer second shots to kids who were vaccinated at a district-hosted clinic last month, along with first dose and booster doses to anyone who is eligible.

Registration for the Dec. 23 clinic can be completed online at https://events.juvare. com/IL-IDPH/oooyn/1157044/.

The complaint goes on to allege that Go- cessive and unreasonable force,” and a failmez attempted to back the car away from ure to properly investigate officer-involved Miller as the officer approached, and that shootings. when Gomez put the car in drive to travel “Defendant Miller had good reason to be“away from defendant Miller,” the officer lieve that his misconduct would not be reshot Gomez once in the chest, killing him. vealed or reported by fellow officers or their Attorneys representing Miller and the supervisors, that their false, incomplete, village countered that Gomez and misleading reports would was a parolee driving a stolen go unchallenged by these supercar who had fled from Chicago visors and fellow officers … and police earlier that day, and that that they were immune from disGomez drove the Jetta directly ciplinary action,” the complaint at Miller before the fatal shot reads. was fired.

The suit goes on to assert that Beyond the circumstances of “the policies, practices and cusGomez’s death, the estate’s suit toms alleged in this complaint made additional, more wideencouraged the extrajudicial spread claims that the death shooting of civilians, including was “done under the authority shooting at vehicle occupants MARCO GOMEZ of one or more interrelated de in the context of a vehicle purfacto policies, practices and/or suit, other police misconduct, customs” of the village, its pothe fabrication of evidence, the lice and others. intimidation of witnesses, the making of The suit alleges those de facto policies in- false, incorrect and misleading statements cluded a failure to properly train, discipline and reports, and the maintenance of a code or “otherwise control” officers who use of silence.” excessive force, the existence of a “police Gomez’s lawsuit was one of several filed code of silence,” “the encouragement of ex- in federal court in recent years, all accusing

the police department of excessive force, and it is at least the fourth of those cases to be settled without a trial. The amount of the settlement in the Gomez case, however, is by far the largest amount the village has agreed to pay.

In one case, the village paid out $54,000 to Tyrone Roney in 2018, after he accused Officer Scott McClintock of attacking him and knocking out his teeth in 2015. Roney was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and battery in that incident but was found not guilty.

In another case, also settled in 2018, the village agreed to a $38,000 settlement with Trumell Lee, who accused Officer Nicholas Defors of placing him in a chokehold while he was in handcuffs, to the point where Lee claimed he blacked out.

Two other minor settlements, one in 2017 and another in 2019, paid out a combined $8,000 to plaintiffs.

The village also denied wrongdoing in all those settlements.

According to the settlement agreement in the Gomez case, the village’s insurer must pay the full amount within 30 days.

cording to the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). The county does not report exact case numbers by town “to protect patient privacy” but a graph tracking infections in Forest Park puts the current rate of COVID-19 cases at a height not seen since Dec. 19, 2020.

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, 1,655 Forest Parkers have tested positive for the virus and 31 have died. The recently detected Omicron variant has not yet been discovered in suburban Cook County but the first Omicron case in Illinois was reported in Chicago on Dec. 7.

Countywide, the CCDPH is reporting a weekly case rate of 325 per 100,000 people as of Dec. 13 (Forest Park’s equivalent number is even higher at 391) and a test positivity rate of 5.3%.

In terms of vaccinations, Forest Park continues to outpace county, state and national averages. According to the latest CCDPH numbers, 11,556 residents have received at least one vaccine dose (80.7%) and 8,872 are fully immunized (61.9%).

Countywide, 75.6% of residents have at least one dose and 58.5% have received the full vaccine series.

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

7

December 15-22

BIG WEEK Kwanzaa celebration

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Music lovers have two chances to take in Bach’s holiday masterpiece, Friday, Dec. 17 and Sunday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m., at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St. in River Forest.

The Chicago Choral Artists will perform the piece for chorus, orchestra and soloists, and the evening begins with a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $45, seniors are $40 and students are $25. Tickets are available at the door or online at chicagochoralartists.org. Masks are required for all in attendance.

The Forest Park Public Library is hosting an in-person and recorded virtual event to highlight the symbols and principles of Kwanzaa on Sunday, Dec. 19 from 2 to 3 p.m.

The hourlong event is hosted by storyteller Baba Tony Brown and Kucha Brownlee, and will teach attendees about Nguzo Saba, including unity, selfdetermination, collection work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

The presentation will be accompanied by African drumming, shekere playing, and will include audience participation, like singing and playing instruments of your own.

Children of all ages and their families are invited to attend. A recording of the event will be available online following its conclusion. Attendees are asked to wear a mask, regardless of whether they are vaccinated.

The Forest Park Public Library is located at 7555 Jackson Blvd.

Winter card-making workshop Forest Park artist Kimberly Adami-Hasegawa hosts this in-person art class at Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., on Thursday, Dec. 16 from 6 to 8:45 p.m.

There is no advance registration required, and while supplies are provided, they are also limited. Rubber stamps, origami and more will be on the table to create unique, winter-themed cards for someone on your list this holiday season.

Drop-in anytime to participate. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status.

Winter Solstice hike Make the most of one of the darkest days of the year thanks to the Trailside Museum of Natural History at 738 Thatcher Ave. in River Forest.

This hike with a Forest Preserves of Cook County naturalist is Saturday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. Hot snacks will be provided and a campfire will be burning to warm your hands and hearts after the hike concludes.

Unvaccinated participants are asked to mask at all times, when physical distancing is not possible.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT ■ Have an event we should feature in the Big Week? Email event details (photo, time, place, cost & a brief

description) to Andy@forestparkreview.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday at noon.

KIMBERLY ADAMI-HASEGAWA

Light-up holiday cards Take crafting to the next level at this illuminating just-for-kids class at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., on Friday, Dec. 17 from 4 to 4:30 p.m.

This class is available for youngsters age 8 to 10, and kits are available upon request to those who are unable to attend in-person.

Those who are there in person will learn how circuits can create a light-up card just in time for the holidays. Kids will also make their own celebration cracker that can be filled with anything they like, perhaps a small figurine, inspirational message or a joke.

In-person guests are required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. Call 708-689-6126 or email ys@fppl.org if you have any accessibility needs the library can accommodate.

8

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

Proviso East High School responds to threat Social media post Dec. 8 leads to heightened police presence at school the following morning

By ANDY VIANO Editor

A violent threat was allegedly made against Proviso East High School, leading law enforcement to send additional security to the building on Thursday, Dec. 9 and prompting school officials to release a statement reassuring families that “safety is our highest priority.”

Messages left with district and school administrators, as well as the Maywood Police Department, were not immediately returned. It is unclear precisely where the threats were made, what the threats involved and whether or not a suspect has been identified or arrested.

The Cook County Sheriff ’s Office (CCSO) said threats against “East High School” were posted on social media on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 8, at which time sheriff ’s police were notified and began developing a plan for the following day.

Thursday morning, members of the sheriff ’s police K9 unit and additional

officers were stationed at the Maywood school when students and staff arrived “as a precaution,” according to a CCSO statement sent to the Review. An additional officer was also stationed at the school throughout the day.

In a statement posted on the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 website, Superintendent James Henderson said his office was made aware “of a threat that was levied against Proviso East High School.”

“We take this and all threats of violence seriously,” the statement continues. “I want to thank all the parents, students, staff, and members of the community who reached out to me with concerns …

Safety is our highest priority and I assure you, we will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure our students and staff are safe on school grounds.”

The incident remains under investigation.

FILE PHOTO

Proviso East

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Maywood Fine Arts: high-quality arts instruction and fun

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tepping inside the studios of Maywood Fine Arts visitors are immediately struck by the positive energy. Whether observing classes in dance, tumbling, karate, music, drama or visual arts -- visitors see young people and teachers working hard while having fun. And its that balance, between highquality arts instruction and fun that has drawn students to MFA for over twentyfive years.

Maywood Fine Arts founders Lois & Ernie Baumann have dedicated their lives to sharing the intrinsic values and physical benefits of the arts to young people in nearby under-resourced communities. “Maywood is our home.

We believe that every child, regardless of their family income, should have access to fine art programs that allow them to develop their talent, imagine new realities and explore possible education and career paths.”

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each other. You can always rely on each other.” Other recent high school graduates describe MFA as “reliable” and their experience, in the case of Darnell, a young man now studying music at the university level, as “a journey.” MFA has created a nurturing environment with a strong sense of community.

Every student has the opportunity, and is expected, to perform or present their accomplishments. And nobody puts on a show like MFA! Whether it’s playing an instrument, showing off the perfect cartwheel or completing a beautiful ballet leap the process is infused with joy!

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

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10

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

We’re at two-thirds of our NewsMatch goal - We need you to jump in now As the end of 2021 comes into view, and with it the close of our annual NewsMatch funding challenge, we’re at 66 percent of our $125,000 goal.

That’s both great and a little scary. We’re still looking to raise $40,000.

So we’re turning to our readers for help. We need you as an active partner in reinventing community journalism in our seven neighborhoods by building our nonprofit newsroom.

Six weeks ago we turned to a group of Growing Community Media’s most dedicated supporters and asked them to create a matching fund to spark other donations. Those good people – their names are just below – gathered up $18,000 as a match.

We thank them for leading the way.

Well, with the help of so many, we have quickly matched the MatchMakers $18,000.

Today, we are launching a brand new $10,000 match made possible by the Monroe and Fran Sullivan Charitable Fund. That means the next $10,000 we raise from readers will be doubled courtesy of the Sullivan’s, our longtime friends and supporters.

Whether you are able to give us $10 or $500, our gratitude will be the same. If you value the work our small and mighty newsroom does each day then please join in.

Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media p.s. Share this message with people you know who would want to know more.

Simone Boutet Bernard Buchholz Loretta Christiansen LaVerne Collins Judith Crown & Richard Rothschild Pam Deady Timothy Divis Heidi Ewell Elizabeth Freeland Tom Gallagher Mary Haley

Lynn Hoffstadter Case & Pat Hoogendoorn Brynne Hovde Edward Jepson Bernice Juettner Donna Kanapes Andrea Kayne & Andy Mead Rich Kordesh Daniel L’Hereux Ralph Lee Alex & Elizabeth Lippit

Ronald Moline Paul Muriello Dennis Murphy Donna Myers Charles Myerson Don Nekrosius Mary Ellen Nelligan Lynne Palmore Debbie & Charles Pastors Teresa Powell Joan Radovich

Marian Sassetti Mary Pat & Bill Sieck Bob Spatz Bob Trezevant Robert Tucker Donald & Mary Vogel MJ Walsh Barbara Watkins Nancy Woulfe Cathy & Scott Yen Debbie Zari

www.forestparkreview.com/donate or make your check payable to Growing Community Media at 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

11

Special Advertising Section

Christmas 2021

Come home for Christmas!

Make yourself at home and celebrate the joy of the holiday season with us.

December 19 at 10 am Worship will include a contemporary Christian band offering sounds of the season with a gospel flair!

December 24 at 6 pm

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Candlelight worship service will include music from our historic, beautifully maintained Skinner Pipe Organ, as well as a harp.

First United Methodist Church 324 N Oak Park Ave. Oak Park

Rev. Adonna Davis Reid, Pastor

FirstUMCOakPark.org

12

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:5

Join us for worship Christmas Eve, December 24 Children’s service, 4:15 and 6 pm this Christmas Lessons and carols led by the In person and live-streamed children of Grace Live-streamed at 4:15 pm on the Grace River Forest YouTube channel Holy Communion, 8 pm

Candlelight Holy Communion, 10:45 pm Music begins at 10:30 pm Live-streamed at 10:30 pm

Christmas Day, December 25 Holy Communion, 10 am Live-streamed at 10 am 7300 Division St.▪︎ River Forest ▪︎ 708-366-6900 ▪︎ GraceRiverForest.org David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor ▪︎ Troy Medlin, Associate Pastor

holiday services at

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation Christmas Eve Services Friday, December 24, 2021 3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages 7pm Candlelight Service Services will be lived streamed with limited in-person seating. To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org

Come Celebrate the Seasons of Advent and Christmas with the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park and Chicago St. Catherine of Siena–St. Lucy Parish Fਮ਴਱ਲ਼ਧ S਴ਭਣਠਸ ਮਥ Aਣਵਤਭਲ਼

St. Edmund Church

Ascension Oak Park

Masses on Saturday, December 18, at 5:00 pm and Sunday, December 19, at 9:00 am

Fਮ਴਱ਲ਼ਧ S਴ਭਣਠਸ ਮਥ Aਣਵਤਭਲ਼

Masses on Saturday, December 18 at 5:30 pm and Sunday, December 19 at 11:00 am

Aਣਵਤਭਲ਼ P਱ਠਸਤ਱ Uਭਣਤ਱ ਲ਼ਧਤ W਱ਤਠਲ਼ਧ

Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Eਵਤ: Friday, December 24

Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Eਵਤ: Friday, December 24

Masses on Saturday, December 18 at 5:00 pm and Sunday, December 19 at 8:00 and 10:00 am

Mass at 3:00 pm

Tਧਤ Nਠਲ਼ਨਵਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ, Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Dਠਸ: Saturday, December 25 Mass at 9:00 am Please note that there is no 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, December 25.

Mass at 4:30 pm (Carols begin at 4:10 pm) This Mass will be livestreamed. (https://www.youtube.com/stedmund) Mass at 10:30 pm (Carols begin at 10:10 pm.)

Tਧਤ Nਠਲ਼ਨਵਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ, Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Dਠਸ: Saturday, December 25

Tਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Fਠਬਨਫਸ ਮਥ Jਤਲ਴ਲ, Mਠ਱ਸ ਠਭਣ Jਮਲਤਯਧ: Sunday, December 26

Mass at 11:00 am Please note that there is no 5:30 pm Mass on Saturday, December 25

Sਮਫਤਬਭਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ Mਠ਱ਸ, ਲ਼ਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Mਮਲ਼ਧਤ਱ ਮਥ Gਮਣ (Nਤਸ਼ Yਤਠ਱’ਲ Dਠਸ): Saturday, January 1

Tਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Fਠਬਨਫਸ ਮਥ Jਤਲ਴ਲ, Mਠ਱ਸ ਠਭਣ Jਮਲਤਯਧ: Sunday, December 26

Mass at 9:00 am

Not a holy day of obligation this year.

No Mass is scheduled.

Please note that there is no 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, January 1.

All are welcome to the 5:30 pm Mass at St. Edmund Church.

Tਧਤ Eਯਨਯਧਠਭਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ: Sunday, January 2 Mass at 9:00 am

Tਧਤ Bਠਯਲ਼ਨਲਬ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ

Masses on Saturday, January 8, at 5:00 pm and Sunday, January 9, at 9:00 am

Mass at 11:00 am

Sਮਫਤਬਭਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ Mਠ਱ਸ, ਲ਼ਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Mਮਲ਼ਧਤ਱ ਮਥ Gਮਣ (Nਤਸ਼ Yਤਠ਱’ਲ Dਠਸ): Saturday, January 1 Not a holy day of obligation this year.

No Mass is scheduled.

Tਧਤ Eਯਨਯਧਠਭਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ

Masses on Saturday, January 1, at 5:30 pm and Sunday January 2, at 11:00 am

Tਧਤ Bਠਯਲ਼ਨਲਬ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ

Masses on Saturday, January 8, at 5:30 pm and Sunday, January 9, at 11:00 am

Wednesday, December 15, at 7:00 pm

Fਮ਴਱ਲ਼ਧ S਴ਭਣਠਸ ਮਥ Aਣਵਤਭਲ਼

Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Eਵਤ: Friday, December 24 Masses at 3:30, 5:30 and 11:00 pm

Tਧਤ Nਠਲ਼ਨਵਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ, Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Dਠਸ: Saturday, December 25 Masses at 8:00 and 10:30 am Please note that there is no 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, December 25

Tਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Fਠਬਨਫਸ ਮਥ Jਤਲ਴ਲ, Mਠ਱ਸ ਠਭਣ Jਮਲਤਯਧ: Sunday, December 26 Mass at 10:30 am

Sਮਫਤਬਭਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ Mਠ਱ਸ, ਲ਼ਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Mਮਲ਼ਧਤ਱ ਮਥ Gਮਣ (Nਤਸ਼ Yਤਠ਱’ਲ Dਠਸ): Saturday, January 1 Mass at 9:00 am Please note there is no 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday, January 1

P਱ਠਸਤ਱ ਨਭ ਲ਼ਧਤ Sਯਨ਱ਨਲ਼ ਮਥ Tਠਨਹ੉ Saturday, January 1, at 7:30 pm

Tਧਤ Eਯਨਯਧਠਭਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ: Sunday, January 2 Masses at 8:00 and 10:30 am

Tਧਤ Bਠਯਲ਼ਨਲਬ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ

Masses on Saturday, January 8, at 5:00 pm and Sunday, January 9, at 8:00 and 10:00 am

St. Giles Parish Fਮ਴਱ਲ਼ਧ S਴ਭਣਠਸ ਮਥ Aਣਵਤਭਲ਼

Masses on Saturday, December 18, at 4:30 pm and Sunday, December 19, at 8:00 and 10:30 am

O਴ਲ਼ਣਮਮ਱ Wਮ਱ਣ, M਴ਲਨਢ ਠਭਣ P਱ਠਸਤ਱ Sਤ਱ਵਨਢਤ Church Courtyard, weather permitting Tuesday, December 21, at 7:30 pm

Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Eਵਤ: Friday, December 24

Mass at 3:00 pm in Church Mass at 3:15 pm in St. Giles School Gym Mass at 5:00 pm* in Church (livestreamed) Distribution of Communion from 6:15 to 6:30 pm on Columbian Avenue in front of outdoor Nativity Scene Family Mass in St. Giles School Gym at 7:30 pm (Carols begin at 7:00 pm) Mass at 10:30 pm* in Church (livestreamed) (Carols begin at 10:00 pm)

Tਧਤ Nਠਲ਼ਨਵਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ, Cਧ਱ਨਲਲ਼ਬਠਲ Dਠਸ: Saturday, December 25 Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 am

Tਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Fਠਬਨਫਸ ਮਥ Jਤਲ਴ਲ, Mਠ਱ਸ ਠਭਣ Jਮਲਤਯਧ: Sunday, December 26 Mass at 9:00 am* (livestreamed)

Sਮਫਤਬਭਨਲ਼ਸ ਮਥ Mਠ਱ਸ, ਲ਼ਧਤ Hਮਫਸ Mਮਲ਼ਧਤ਱ ਮਥ Gਮਣ (Nਤਸ਼ Yਤਠ਱’ਲ Dਠਸ): Saturday, January 1 Masses on Friday, December 31, at 4:30 pm* (livestreamed) and Saturday, January 1, at 9:00 am

Tਧਤ Eਯਨਯਧਠਭਸ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ: Sunday, January 2

Masses at 8:00 am and 10:30 am* (livestreamed)

Tਧਤ Bਠਯਲ਼ਨਲਬ ਮਥ ਲ਼ਧਤ Lਮ਱ਣ

Masses on Saturday, January 8, at 4:30 pm and Sunday, January 9, at 8:00 and 10:30 am *Masses to be livestreamed.

Please see our website, stgilesparish.org, to find links to livestream events.

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

13

WORSHIP WITH PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,UCC 460 LAKE ST. www.pilgrimoakpark.org Pageant December 19, 10:30 Longest Night, December 20 8:00, online only Christmas Eve, 5:00

PEACE

Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Family Mass - St. Luke Church preceded at 3:30 pm by a program of carols from around the world by our Children’s Choir

6:00 pm - St. Luke Church preceded by sounds of the season at 5:45 pm featuring traditional carols with brass

Christmas Eve Services Family Candlelight - 5:00pm Lessons & Carols - 10:00pm

Christmas Day Service - 9:30am New Year’s Eve Service - 7:00pm

Pastor Leonard R. Payton • Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 305 Circle Avenue, Forest Park (708) 366-3226 • www.stjohnforestpark.org

10:30 pm - St. Bernardine Church preceded by program of beloved carols at 10:00 pm presented by our Adult Choir accompanied by organ and brass

Christmas Day 8:00 am - St. Bernardine Church Traditional Christmas liturgy accompanied by organ and brass

9:30 am - St. Luke Church with modern sounds of the season accompanied by our Contemporary Choir with guitar, flute and brass

11:00 am - St. Luke Church with seasonal music by our Adult Choir accompanied by organ and brass

First United Church of Oak Park wishes you

Tidings of Comfort & Joy Wednesday, December 15

Blue Christmas

7:30 p.m. This quiet service held in the Chapel with prayer, song, meditation, and poetry allows for healing and grace this Christmas season.

Friday, December 24

Christmas Eve 5 p.m. Family-friendly worship with children's Christmas pageant 8 p.m. Traditional service of lessons and carols

St. Luke Church 7600 W. Lake Street River Forest

St. Bernardine Church 7246 Harrison Street Forest Park

848 Lake Street, Oak Park firstunitedoakpark.com facebook.com/f / irstunitedoakpark /f

14

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

OPINION O U R

V I E W

Police department mourns

I

t has been an impossibly hard two weeks for the Forest Park Police Department. Our small and tight-knit department has lost two officers this month in unexpected deaths.

First was the death of Officer Nick Kozak. He died in his Villa Park home days after testing positive for COVID-19, though the official cause of death is still pending from the DuPage County medical examiner.

Then on Dec. 6, a day most of the department’s personnel had gathered for Kozak’s funeral, came the stunning news of the death of Officer Jose “Pepe” Flores. After working the night shift, Flores attended Kozak’s memorial and then headed to his DuPage County home. When he did not report to his next shift late that day, officers headed to his home and found him dead in bed. He was 46.

In a department budgeted for 38 officers, already depleted to 34, suddenly losing two additional colleagues has been devastating. But beyond the logistical issues of covering shifts and the financial issues of paying overtime, we have a police force in shock and mourning.

Both officers were well-liked and respected. An outpouring of caring has followed each death from the community, from firefighters, from neighboring police departments.

Flores, who grew up in Forest Park and still has family here, was widely seen as an especially connected and compassionate police officer. Super-sized at 6-feet, 6-inches, he was clearly a presence. But according to so many, he led with kindness, good humor and empathy. He has been described on social media as an ideal for policing in our contentious times.

Forest Park’s police department is at a crossroads.

In recent months a new chief and deputy have risen through the ranks. Certainly, additional officers will need to be recruited. At a moment when every employer faces challenges in finding candidates, this police department is no different. Chief Ken Gross said the hiring of one new officer is pending, but recruitment is difficult for his department and all others.

Gross has been critical of media and politicians for allegedly poisoning the public against police officers.

We urge him to turn down this rhetoric. The debate over policing in America, and in Forest Park, is critical and overdue. The opportunity that he controls is to restore staffing in his department and to shape this department in the image of officers such as Pepe Flores.

Mayor Rory Hoskins, meanwhile, has urged a time of healing and support for this essential department. “I would say to the wider community that if they have the opportunity to express a kind word to a police officer … I would encourage the community to wrap its arms around the Forest Park Police Department.”

That is a message worth hearing and acting on.

Resolved: kindness over fear for 2022

T

he adage, “Actions prove who someone is, words prove who they want to be,” is at the center of my workspace. It is haunting me today, as I delete so much of what I have written and start this column all over again. I am sparing you the Laverne and Shirley theme song, my deep dive into the layout of a grocery store, and my long observations of drivers today. Just taking action with my words.

Since there are only a few weeks left in 2021, the beginning stages of that state of mind that comes at the end of every year is here. It is a similar feeling I have every week as I take action before the arrival of the finest garbage trucks and drivers. I can sometimes be seen running to the alley early Thursday just after I hear the hum of the truck coming.

Oh the delight of a successful Thursday morning.

Every single week a truck comes and takes all that trash, a luxury. There have been a few dark weeks this year that have gotten back on track by the bright light of Thursday morning trash pick-up.

So here’s to removal of trash from 2021.

My action, with these words, is not spreading fear or anger or frustration. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some, but I am going to manage my trash. I can take it out without showing it to you. For this moment, I would like to sincerely give thanks for the good things around. First, I would like to thank the wonderful families, teachers, support staff, boards, and parent

organizations that serve our young people in Forest Park and Proviso. As we practice compassion, forgiveness and kindness, good things happen to all of us.

Next, my deepest thanks to the village of Forest Park, including our staff, administrators, elected officials, police, fire, public works, community center, and all the support agencies that support you. The park district deserves a note of gratitude, especially for the outdoor fitness opportunities available. Of course to our Forest Park Library, Historical Society, volunteers in youth sports, Kiwanis Club, Arts Alliance, Chamber, my fellow Forest Park Review co-workers and all the businesses in town, thank you for carrying on with grace and dedication.

There has been so much fear and anger expressed, not only nationally but locally, and so much hurt, it is OK to focus on what is going right, and there is so much more good, always.

While some have said we all benefit from assuming best intentions of others, this is a common theme in good leadership theory. Yet critics say that giving people the benefit of the doubt allows systems and people to excuses problematic behaviors, forces people to deny their feelings, or can create toxic cycles of aggression. I just feel better when I am making space for positivity and optimism and not being cynical about everything and everyone just makes me feel better.

So cheers to all of you, be well, and to the next year, we’ll drink a cup of kindness, for auld lang syne.

JILL WAGNER

Hang e r e h t in rk

a P t s e For

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15

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

Silence can be eloquent

I

worse. Dwelling on the negative is one of our favorite sports.

A couple will return from a fabulous trip to Hawaii and lead off with what a pain it was to rent a car. During our recent trip to Michigan, we suffered a minor mishap. It could easily have been our lead story but we didn’t feel any need to share it.

If a minor mishap story isn’t funny, it’s not worth telling.

Besides dwelling on the negative, people love to relate a topic to their own experience.

It doesn’t matter how tenuous the connection, the subject is only relevant when it relates to them. This may stem from a need for attention. It can come from insecurity, or simply a need to fill the silence. We’ve all said stupid things because silence made us nervous.

I learned the value of silence, though, many years ago. I used to meet with a friend weekly for pizza and beer. My friend used these get-togethers to pour out his problems. In the beginning, I offered advice and solutions. After a while, I simply listened. My silence was much more eloquent than my “wisdom.”

Recently, a woman was telling me about her disappointment at not getting a job.

admire people who only speak when they have something meaningful to say. I’m from the opposite school of thought: We must leave no thought unexpressed!

I’m so busy talking I’m usually the last person to finish the meal.

Lately, though, I’ve learned the eloquence of silence.

Sure, I still have profound insights and interesting stories to share but what’s the point?

Swapping stories can be fun but is it really conversation?

People love talking about their health problems, for example, especially during the pandemic. If I talk about my own aches and pains, someone else will talk about theirs. If someone describes the minor car accident they had, another person will bring up their own rear-ender. If we start talking about urban violence, everyone will come up with their own scary examples.

For most, our favorite topic is ourselves. While someone talks about their Christmas dinner disaster, listeners are busy rehearsing their own stories. Sometimes it gets competitive. People top each other with how their Christmas was even

JOHN RICE

Words are

meaningless, silence is comfortable, when you’re with your friends.

A

L O O K

B A C K

I N

When I offered to help her find a similar job, she did not appreciate it. She had simply wanted to express her frustration, she wasn’t looking for someone to rescue her.

Silence is part of the spirit of the Christmas season. The prime example is how Joseph took the news when he learned his fiancée was pregnant. He never questioned God’s plan; instead, he covered for what would have been Mary’s shame. Joseph is mentioned in all four gospels but not a word he said was ever recorded. Talk about the strong, silent type!

Silence is what we need when the world is full of cultural, social and commercial noise. Sometimes we find it in the relative quiet of a church service. Sometimes we find it on a quiet walk. I recently strolled through Altenheim and was amazed at the improvements. All the decrepit buildings are gone, replaced by freshly planted grass.

Imagine how much peace this greenspace could bring us?

At this year’s Christmas feast, I’ll be a bit quieter at the table. If we discuss Christmas music, though, I’ll insist that “Silent Night” is still the most popular carol. I will propose a toast using the words of the famous Japanese poet, Katakana Gohan: “Words are meaningless, silence is comfortable, when you’re with your friends.”

And I’ll finish my food at the same time as everyone else.

News that’s close to home

T I M E

A Wolf at the door

By JILL WAGNER

$1.00

Contributor

In 1999 the Krader-Wolf Brothers furniture store, at 7312 Madison St. (the corner of Madison and Circle, present day Forest Park Tap) closed after 107 years in business.

Wolf Brothers was originally a dry good business on Madison Street and their ads creatively reassured customers that “a Wolf will greet you at the door,” with a friendly wolf drawn in the middle of the ad.

In 1960, Alfred Krader purchased the business, renovated the space and reopened with the hyphenated name. The stained-glass Wolf Brothers sign that once was over the westside doors was donated to the Historical Society of Forest Park in 2016 when the fragile window was removed for restoration and conservation.

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Forest Park Review archives

Krader-Wolf Furniture store was a fixture on Madison Street for 107 years and closed in 1999.

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Growing Community Media

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,

software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

Director of Religious Activities and Education (Arlington Heights, IL) Plan, dvlp, & direct Islamic education prgms; publicize prgms through bulletins, flyers, mailings, & brochures; consult w/ Kyrgyz American community leaders on aregular basis; analyze revenue & prgm cost data; maintain regular & convenient office hrs for community members seeking counseling & guidance; sched special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats; visit community members’ homes to provide info or resources regarding Islamic education prgms. Bach deg in Islamic Theology, Islamic Studies, or Education + 24 mos of F/T exp in the job or in teaching reqd. Must be fluent in Kyrgyz lang. M-F, 40 hrs/ wk. Send resume (only by mail) to Bekmurat Amirakul, Kyrgyz Community Center, 1114 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

SANITARIAN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak- park.us/jobs.

Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager in the Health Department.

This position manages the Oak Park Farmer’s Market including the vendors that sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This is a part-time seasonal position with work from January-mid November and work required on Saturday’s from May through October. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

A&A ELECTRIC PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER Call for more info.

708-738-3848

Fun, Clean, Picture Frame Assembly JOB Tired or bored of clicking away on a keyboard working at home? Manufacturing Keep your hands and mind busy with a fun, safe, clean assembly job. You’d have your own large assembly zone, at least 15-20 feet away from others, so we’re really safe here. Top rated firm Alpina Manufacturing LLC founded in 1992, Oak Park resident owner. Beautiful campus in Galewood, near Mars candy, 3 blocks north of Oak Park. We build and sell display framing systems to customers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Verizon, Circle K gas stations, Hospitals. Full time, Part time, Flex hours for working parents or students. We train, no travel, work in Galewood. Open to any backgrounds. Excellent pay, friendly caring management. Stop in anytime between 7am and 4pm M-F ask for Izzy to apply and check us out. Alpina Manufacturing 6460 W Cortland St Chicago IL 60707

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination, call

Starting a New Business?

HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Austin Weekly News • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark

Call the Experts Before You Place Your Legal Ad!







Call Stacy for details:

773-626-6332

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | AustinWeeklyNews.com | RBLandmark.com | ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG RENTALS & REAL ESTATE

MARKETPLACE

CARS WANTED

WANTED TO BUY

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS Restored or Restored or Unrestored Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Import Cars: Cars:

Mercedes, Corvette, Mercedes,Porsche, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, MuscleCars, Cars, Ferrari’s,Jaguars, Jaguars, Muscle Mustang && Mopars Mopars Mustang Top $$ Etc. $$$$Top $$allallmakes, makes, Etc.

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

CEMETARY PLOTS FOUR PLOTS AT FOREST HOME CEMETERY IN FOREST PARK Located in Garden of the Chapel section. Lot 120-B, section 61, spaces 1,2,3,4. Bronze flush type markers only, per the contract. $600.00 or best offer.

DMCK2740@ATT.NET

Collector James Collector James 630-201-8122 630-201-8122

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles HOME SERVICES Domestic / Import Cars: HAULING ELECTRICAL Mercedes, Porsche,ELECTRICAL Corvette,

Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, A&A ELECTRIC Ceiling Mopars Fans Let anMustang American & Veteran do your work

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Installed

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

Collector James

630-201-8122

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

FLOORS

HANDYMAN

KLIS FLOORING INC.

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair

708-488-9411

Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

17

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE Fall Yard Clean-Up Slit Seeding Bush Trimming Fall Leaf Clean-Up Senior Discount Snow Removal

brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/ Plaster Repair Low Cost 708.749.0011

SUBURBAN RENTALS STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com CICERO 3724 S 53RD CT

A beautiful 2 flat in South Cicero off 35th st. Features include 3 bedrooms, central air, garage parking.

Modern appliances include dishwasher. Utilities separate. $1,700 per month plus security. Lease with option to buy possible.

708-383-8223 or 773-676-6805

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

ROOMS FOR RENT

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave.

Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt.

312-212-1212

PUBLIC NOTICES

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

WOODWORK Terry's

Woodwork Restoration On-site refinishing of wood

and fiberglass since 1977.

Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

References available.

Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list for both One and Two Bedroom Apartments! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Apartments offered with an occupancy of one to four persons. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance. Austin Renaissance will accept requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than , September 15, 2021. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address. Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064 or Email requests to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only. No walk-ins accepted.

Town Center Realty Group LLC

NOVENAS PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail .Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St . Jude. R.R.

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: January 5, 2022

PLASTERING

CITY RENTALS

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 01-22-Z APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Massage Fix, LLC, to operate a massage service establishment pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 101 N. Marion Street, Suite 302, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-125-020-0000, in the DT Downtown Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The hearing will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19

outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the main entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 5, 2022. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. Individuals who sign up to participate in-person will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, December 15, 2021

773-637-0692 Ask for John

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 7th, 2022 for the following: BID 22-105 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK EMERGENCY STREET LIGHTING AND TRAFFIC CONTROL REPAIR RATES REQUEST FOR BIDS Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5700 or by stopping by the office located at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the Streets & Street lighting Superintendent, Scott Brinkman, sbrinkman@oak-park. us or on the Village’s website http://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/finance-department.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal December 15, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of BABY GRAULAU 2021CONC001674.

Reach the people making the decisions.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: BABY GRAULAU to the new name of: RICARDO LONGORIA

Place an ad in GCM Classified!

Call 773/626-6332

The court date will be held: On February 2, 2022 at 10:30am at via Zoom: Meeting ID: 923 0250 9713 Password: 709022 Cook County in Courtroom # Cal. 6/ 1707 Published in Wednesday Journal December 8, 15, 22, 2021

18

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Chela de Jesus Piedra Gonzalez, Petitioner and Nelson Alejandro Armijos Gonzaga, Respondent, Case No. 2021D010060.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before December 29, 2021, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal December 1, 8, 15 2021

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 7th, 2022 for the following: BID 22-106 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK STREET LIGHTING AND TRAFFIC CONTROL MATERIALS PRICING REQUEST FOR BIDS Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5700 or by stopping by the office located at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the Streets & Street lighting Superintendent, Scott Brinkman, sbrinkman@oak-park. us or on the Village’s website http://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/finance-department.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal December 15, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: January 5, 2022 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 04-22-Z APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Khamkoon, LLC, to operate a massage service establishment pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 1105 Holley Court, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-119-0250000, in the DT Downtown Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The hearing will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19

outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the main entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 5, 2022. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. Individuals who sign up to participate in-person will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, December 15, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings HEARING DATE: January 5, 2022 Act. The Village President has TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter determined that an in-person public as the Agenda permits hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak CALENDAR NUMBER: 02-22-Z during Governor JB Pritzker’s APPLICATION: The Zoning Board current disaster proclamation. It is of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct also not feasible to have a person a public hearing on a variance present at the public hearing due to application filed by the Applicant, public safety concerns related to the Stephanie Yunez, who seeks a COVID-19 outbreak. variance from Section 9.3 (L) (1) All interested persons will be given (a) of the Zoning Ordinance of the an opportunity to be heard at the Village of Oak Park, which requires public hearing. Interested persons that fences located within 35 feet of may provide written evidence, a front lot line or closer to the front testimony and public comment on lot line than the existing building, the application by email to Zoning@ whichever is less, must be open oak-park.us or by drop off in the fences and cannot exceed five feet in Oak Park Payment Drop Box across height, to maintain the existing fence from the entrance to Village Hall, that is six (6) foot tall and does not 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, meet the open fence requirement at Illinois, to be received no later than the property commonly known as 5:00 p.m. on January 5, 2022. An 1007 N. Harlem Avenue, # A, Illinois, individual’s name and their testimony Property Index Number 16-06-307or comment will be read aloud into 041-0000 (“Subject Property”) in the the record at the public hearing if R-6 Multiple-family Zoning District. received no later than 30 minutes A copy of the application and prior to the start of the public hearing. applicable documents are on file Interested persons may also sign up and are available for inspection at to participate in-person in the hearing Village Hall, Development Customer to cross examine the applicant and Services Department, 123 Madison its witnesses, present evidence, Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, testimony or public comment by Monday through Friday between 8:30 emailing Zoning @oak-park.us a.m. and 5:00 p.m. before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. Individuals who The Board will conduct the public sign up to participate in-person will hearing remotely with live audio receive an email from Village staff available and optional video. The with information about how to join hearing will be streamed live and the hearing online through Zoom archived online for on-demand web-conference means or by phone. viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast The public hearing may be adjourned on VOP-TV, which is available to by the Board to another date Comcast subscribers on channel without further notice by public 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers announcement at the hearing setting on channel 99. The remote public forth the time and place thereof. hearing is authorized pursuant to Published in Wednesday Journal, December 15, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive bids (labor rates only) from qualified electrical contractors to perform planned and emergency electrical work at Village owned buildings during the calendar year 2022. Bids will be accepted at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, December 29th, 2021.

Village of Oak Park 2022 Electrician Services Bid Number: 21-110BM Issuance Date: 12/15/2021 Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5710 or by e-mailing vics@ oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified.

No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal December 15, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive bids (labor rates only) from qualified plumbing contractors to perform planned and emergency plumbing work at Village owned buildings during the calendar year 2022. Bids will be accepted at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, December 29th, 2021.

Village of Oak Park 2022 Emergency Plumbing Services Bid Number: 21-108BM Issuance Date: 12/15/2021 Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5710 or by e-mailing vics@ oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified.

No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal December 15, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed separate bids will be received by the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (the “Board”) for the following project: OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 SD97 - SUMMER 2022 LIFE SAFETY WORK IRVING, HATCH, WHITTIER OAK PARK, IL 60302 BID GROUP 1 – Early Mechanical Equipment Release Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be publicly opened and read at 2:30 p.m.

CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked: Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 Attention: Bulley & Andrews Project: SD97 - SUMMER 2022 LIFE SAFETY WORK Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes, furnish mechanical equipment.

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.

No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Board’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.

The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Wednesday December 15th, 2021 and are available for viewing/download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews, LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required. https://tinyurl.com/fuy5eare The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District.

The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Alex Mantel of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount.

All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statutory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.

For additional information on the project, contact Alex Mantel of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at amantel@bulley.com or 219-6788383.

Dated: 12/13/21 Alex Mantel Bulley & Andrews, LLC Published in Wednesday Journal December 15, 2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, vs.

ELENA F. MARROQUIN A/K/A ELENA FIGUEROA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS GUARDIAN FOR CHRISTIAN MARROQUIN AND NICHOLAS MARROQUIN, JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MARIELENA SANTANA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ESTATE OF RICCARDO A. MARROQUIN A/K/A RICCARDO MARROQUIN, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 17 CH 954 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-420-011.

Commonly known as 425 S. EAST AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 17-00157 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3181888

paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm..

Please refer to file number 19092500.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 19-092500 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 14891 TJSC#: 41-2041 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 19 CH 14891 I3182691

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH MORTGAGE INVESTORS, INC., MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, MANA SERIES 2007-OAR4 Plaintiff, -v.ELLEN C. SCHNACK, RANDALL C. SCHNACK Defendants 19 CH 14891 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 4, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 5, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 030R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-319-0080000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $417,344.71.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount

Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

INC., REALTOR

19

(708) 366-8989 7342 MADISON ST, FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS 60130

7618 Marengo Avenue

629 Harlem $309,000

$409,000

Brick bungalow 2-flat in the heart of Forest Park. Steps from transportation and downtown shopping and nightlife. 1st flr unit is duplexed into basement. Expansive LR and formal DR, 2 BRs both large enough for king sized beds, an eat-in kitchen, and three season porch. Finished basement has large study, deep walk-in closet, fam rm, second full BA, and third large BR. Basement laundry room has two sets of washer/dryers, one for each unit. Top flr 2 BR unit has been rented since 2006. The 2 ½ car garage has room for parking/storage. Tenants park on the driveway off the front. A flood control system keeps the basement dry. Great starter home, regular investment, or a perfect place to retire!

621 Elgin Avenue $423,000 Beautifully built and well cared for 2-flat. Two 2 BR units, fully occupied building for the next year, makes for a great investment. Rents cover the mortgage, taxes, utilities, and insurance. Large open living rms, formal dining rms, eat-in kitchens, and good sized BRs. Parking for four cars minimum up to 6 if needed! Great location just a few steps away from the transportation and downtown Forest Park.

1039 Troost Ave, Forest Park $350,000 Huge three bedroom home in need of rehab.

Three car plus garage! Enormous 75 foot lot.

UNDER CONTRACT

One of Forest Park’s hidden gems. 2-flat.

Each unit has a large open formal dining room and 2 large BRs. The front living rms have eight windows and a brick faux fireplace. The rear BRs on each floor are tied into a tandem rm often used as a large closet and/or an office. Well maintained Kitchens and BAs. Basement is wide open for your first floor duplex ideas! Separate utilities each unit. Parking pad fits six cars. Next to the community gardens and a beautiful hidden gem of a park! Located 100 feet from the blue line. This opportunity will not last long. SOLD AS IS.

813 Beloit Avenue $259,000 One of Forest Park’s largest bungalows is hitting the market! Classic layout with living rm, dining rm, and 3 BR,1 BA. The original ceiling height under the drop ceiling will measure out to 9 feet high! The basement was at one time an apartment but can be gutted and adjoined with the first floor, or left as is for storage. Very large partially heated attic is ready for your expansion ideas.

Located 100 feet from the FP Park District baseball diamonds, skate park, tennis courts, playgrounds and pool. A couple blocks to the Desplaines L entrance.

This home is ready for your decorating and updates!

7314 Randolph, Forest Park $179,000 This two bedroom and two bathroom unit is ready to sell! While dated, it is in impeccable condition. Sixth floor facing East gives that beautiful morning sunshine coming over the treetops! Great building and management. This unit does have garage parking.

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Our has an an Our community community has impeccable recordof ofsafety safety impeccable record during the COVID-19 crisis during the COVID-19 crisis and we at nothing to make andwill we stop will stop at nothing sure it continues. to make sure it continues.

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Forest Park Review, December 15, 2021

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Property transfers p. B11

Homes December 15, 2021

To paint or not to paint?

ALEX ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A house on Linden Avenue in Oak Park had contrasting bands of brick and stucco on the first and second floors (below), but now has a uniform dark palette following a new paint job (above).

Local brick homes not immune to paint trends

By LACEY SIKORA

A

Contributing Reporter

ccording to home décor websites such as Houzz and Better Homes and Gardens, hot colors for home exteriors include black, charcoal gray and white. A click of the remote control to any popular home design programming will show you that painting an older brick home white or black is an instant upgrade to a more modern look.

While the trend may seem more suitable to contemporary homes rather than our historic housing stock, a slow drive around Oak Park and River Forest reveals that painting brick is catching on here, even on houses in

historic districts.

Architect and former chair of Oak Park’s Historic Preservation Commission Christopher Payne says of painting brick, “There are so many issues here. Preservation, aesthetics, technical issues.”

He says that the village Historic Preservation Commission has not adopted exterior paint color standards.

“Secretary of the Interior Standards call for not painting brick and for using historically appropriate colors, but we didn’t adopt that part of the standards, so Oak Park does not regulate painting or paint color,” Payne said. “The sad part of this is that so much See PAINT on page B4

COURTESY © VHT STUDIOS

December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B1

CELEBRATe THE season with gratitude!

Defining the art of selling real estate.

Open House Sun 1-3pm

Open House Sun 1-3pm

UNDER CONTRACT

Defining the art of selling real estate.

Oak Park

Oak Park Ave., Oak Park 306 Keystone Ave., River 1487 Clybourn, Chicago 111 Home Forest Ave., River Forest 222 Gale Ave., River Forest 230 S. Euclid Ave., Oak 1224 Park N.339 Forest Ave, Oak Park

3 BR 2.1 BA .............................................................$649,000

6 Elizabeth Ct., Oak Park

222 Gale Ave., River Forest

SOLD!

Oak Park

3 BR 2.2 BA ............................................................$599,000

230 S. Euclid Ave., Oak Park

3 BR 3.1 BA ............................................................. $539,000

339 Forest Ave., River Forest

SOLD!

306 Keystone Ave., River Forest

SOLD!

435 William, 709, River Forest Ave., Oak 622 N550 Lombard Ave., Forest Oak Park 427 N Grove Ave., Oak550 ParkForest 435 William, 709,Park River Forest Forest Ave., OakOak ParkPark 622 N 719 Lombard Ave.,Ave., Oak Park 719 Forest Ave., Oak Park

1005 N Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park 1005 South Blvd., 402, Oak Park 1019 N Elmwood Ave., Oak Park 1103 Keystone Ave., River Forest

5 N Kenilworth Ave., Oak23 ParkGale, 1005River South Blvd., 402, Oak Park 1019 N Elmwood Oak Park 1103 Keystone 936 Ave., Chicago Ave., Oak Park Ave., River Forest Forest

647 Linden Ave., Oak Park

BUYING OR SELLING? 1011 South Boulevard | Oak Park, IL 60302 1011 South Boulevard | Oak Park, IL 60302 PUT THE POWER OF THE GPS office TEAM 708.366.0400 office 708.366.0400 GPS@atproperties TO WORK FOR YOU. GPS@atproperties 1011 South Boulevard | Oak Park, IL 60302 1011 South Boulevard | Oak Park, IL 60302 office 708.366.0400 GPS@atproperties

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Chris Curran, Broker Greer Haseman, Broker Greer Haseman 708-366-0400 cell 708-606-8896 cell | 708-366-0200 office1011 South Boulevard | Oak Park, IL 60302 | Office 708.366.0400 | greer@atproperties.com ChrisCurran@atproperties.com greer@atproperties.com

Greer Haseman

atproperties.com

B2 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate December 15, 2021 1011 South Boulevard | ■Oak Park, IL 60302 | Office 708.366.0400 | greer@atproperties.com

CELEBRATe THE season with gratitude!

SOLD!

605 Iowa St. Oak Park

SOLD!

1346 Jackson Ave., River Forest

SOLD!

SOLD!

245 N. Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park

1101 N. Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park

SOLD!

SOLD!

929 Columbian Ave., Oak Park

729 S. Lombard, Oak Park

SOLD!

202 S. Harvey Ave, Oak Park

SOLD!

925 Columbian, Oak Park

SOLD!

Picture YOUR House Here! atproperties.com December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B3

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

PAINT

Big trend from page B1 of Arts & Crafts and Prairie School architecture is defined by color. Not following the guidelines results in homes that don’t preserve this significant design feature. In the worst case, it could be damaging to the brick as it could potentially trap moisture in the structure.”

From his work with clients, Payne says he has seen a push to paint brick or stucco, and he is generally against painting brick, especially on historic homes.

“Personally, I don’t like it from an aesthetic perspective because brick is a through-material,” Payne said. “It has an intrinsic color. Like stone or copper, it shouldn’t be painted.”

Preservationists, Payne says, often propose easily reversible modifications to older homes.

“The installation of a solar panel or handrail or even a small addition can be done without affecting the original structure,” he said. “These items can then be easily removed in the future. Painting brick or stone is not an easily reversible intervention, because it takes great effort to remove paint from a porous surface. So, you are stuck with it and its maintenance for many, many years.”

Practical considerations Ron Feeley, who owns Ronbo’s Fine Painting, says painted brick has become a big trend for a younger wave of home buyers.

“It’s an Instagram thing. It’s a Pinterest thing,” he said. “The younger generation doesn’t like brick.”

He says that although he’s painted six brick homes in the past few years, it’s not something he recommends.

“Once you paint it, you have to do it again in a few years,” Feeley said. “Regular brick is forever.”

139 S GROVE, OAK PARK :: $1,179,000 :: 6 BED :: 4.5 BATH Majestic Victorian in central Oak Park Historic District.

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

Need a helping of

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit OakPark.com/subscribe COURTESY REDFIN.COM

A home on Jackson Avenue in River Forest got a comprehensive façade update (top) after a recent purchase, complete with a new coat of paint, a new entrance portico and dormer gable.

B4 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

He adds that for more modern homes with what he calls an ugly brick finish, a paint job can make the house look better and more cohesive, but it’s important for clients to know that painting brick creates a maintenance issue in that the paint will need to be redone on a regular basis.

Feeley says there are a few options to change the color of original brick. A popular application right now is to use milk paint. It’s a lighter-colored paint, and once it starts to dry, the painter power washes it, giving the finish and aged, weathered look.

“It adds a little bit of color but you can kind of see the brick beneath it,” Feeley RON FEELEY said. “It won’t peel Painting contractor a lot because it is already washed down.”

Another option is to use a highsolids acrylic latex paint. Feeley says the paint has to have a flat finish so the brick can breathe, and it’s important to use a high-quality acrylic primer so that the paint will adhere. A third option is to use a latex concrete stain.

With all applications, Feeley says, preparation is key. Brick has to be chemically cleaned and pressure washed first.

“The younger generation doesn’t like brick.”

COURTESY © VHT STUDIOS

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

This South Kenilworth Avenue two-flat, once displaying its brown brick exterior (left) now sports a uniform coat of white paint to bricks and trim alike.

“Contamination could create a failure problem down the road,” he said.

When it comes to costs, Feeley says painting brick does not cost that much more than painting wood siding. He notes that brick requires less preparation than the scraping and sanding that wood requires, but because brick is porous, it requires

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more paint.

What does cost more is changing your mind. Feeley says the cost to remove paint from a house is quite a bit more than putting it on. Citing an example of what he calls a standard 2,000-square-foot brick home in northeast Oak Park like the one his mother owned, Feeley says it would

cost roughly $13,000 to paint the brick.

To take the paint off the same house, he estimates would cost $30,000 to $50,000 due to the amount of labor involved. Removing the paint requires chemicals such as methyl chloride.

“I wouldn’t take that job because it’d be a toxic job,” he said.

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

A safe & smart choice.

Choosing communityyou you Choosing aa community can trust has never been can trust has never been more important. more difficult.

SERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST SINCE 1976

Our has an an Our community community has impeccable record of safety impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 COVID-19 crisis during the crisis and we at nothing to make andwill we stop will stop at nothing sure it continues. to make sure it continues.

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December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B5

OAK PARK Beautiful 2-level duplexed condo in the heart of downtown Oak Park!

Loads of sunlight and modern updates.

3 BR, 2.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $298,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043

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3 BR, 2.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $378,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043

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Pristine oak floors, gorgeous custom corner banding and modern conveniences grace this space.

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3 BR, 2.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $560,000

2 BR, 1.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $208,000

Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043

Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043

Want to see your listings in Distinctive Properties?

Contact Marc Stopeck at 708.613.3330 or marc@oakpark.com B6 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

Excellence

(ek’se lens) noun.

The quality of being exceptional; superior

Now in our Second Century of Service

Tom Carraher redefines the essence of real estate service.

Finding someone who has the exceptional commitment required for professional excellence is rare... ...until you select the real estate professional with a total commitment to excellence in real estate service, Tom Carraher.

OAK PARK Wonderful home with the best primary suite, family room on the first floor, and two fireplaces.

To find a local expert, go to oakparkrealtors.org

Call Tom Carraher at 708-822-0540 to achieve all of your real estate goals.

4 BR, 2.2 BA .................................................................................................................. $635,000 Stephanie Eiger • 708-557-0779

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December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B7

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310 N Cuyler Ave Oak Park | $649,900 Patricia McGowan

1133 Elgin Ave Forest Park | $599,000 Roman Lewis

428 S Grove Ave Oak Park | $599,000 Hannah Gillespie

631 Marengo Ave Forest Park | $525,000 Cathy Yanda

830 N Euclid Ave Oak Park | $519,000 Jack Lane

738 Woodbine Ave Oak Park | $479,000 Hannah Gillespie

2536 Clinton Ave Berwyn | $415,000 The Dita Group

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909 Marengo Ave Forest Park | $329,900 Roman Lewis

1618 N Austin Ave Chicago | $325,000 Cathy Yanda

1176 S Harvey Ave Oak Park | $240,000 Amy Harris

1128 N Harlem Ave Unit C River Forest | $235,900 Patricia McGowan

1040 Ontario St #2G Oak Park | $175,000 Catherine Simon-Vobornik

844 Harvard St #3 Oak Park | $170,000 Bobbi Eastman

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417 Wisconsin Ave #2W Oak Park | $125,000 Elizabeth O’Connell

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3931 Euclid Ave Stickney | $89,000 James Salazar

7231 Randolph St #1B Forest Park | $61,650 William Geldes

Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest | 1037 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708.697.5900 | oakpark.bairdwarner.com Source: BrokerMetrics® LLC, 1/1/2019 - 12/ 31/2019Detached and Attached only. Chicagoland PMSA

B8 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

SWATI SAXENA

ON BEING THE NO. 1 AGENT IN OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, AND FOREST PARK! We’re proud of our very own Swati Saxena for selling more homes in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park than any other agent in 2021*!

Loved by her clients, respected by her colleagues, with an impeccable work ethic, it’s no surprise to us that she’s ranked #1.

If you’re considering selling, buying or investing, Swati will be there to help you every step of the way.

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*MRED data from Jan 1, 2021 - Nov 30, 2021

December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B9

Team Go2Girls

Lisa Andreoli

708.557.9546

Sara Faust

Stephanie Eiger

Meredith Conn

708.772.7910

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708.743.6973

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Happy Holidays!

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Sue Canepa

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114 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60301

708.334.5833 michelle.miller@cbexchange.com

Sandi Graves

708.544.8440 andrea.bonnie@cbexchange.com

Michelle Miller

Laurie Shapiro

708.203.3614 laurie.shapiro@cbexchange.com

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM Please Like Coldwell Banker Realty - Oak Park Formerly Gloor Realty On Facebook

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker Realty. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Realty LLC.

B10 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

P R O P E R T Y

Oak Park home sells for $1,510,000

T R A N S F E R S

The following property transfers were reported by the Cook County Clerk from August 2021. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

OAK PARK 215 N Elmwood Ave 725 S Maple Ave 439 S Taylor Ave 631 Garfield St 409 S Elmwood Ave

$1,510,000 $100,000 $105,000 $114,000 $135,000

420 Home Ave 727 Erie St 853 Pleasant St 419 S East Ave 1130 Ontario St 915 S Lombard Ave 840 S. Oak Park 228 N Oak Park Ave

$130,000 $150,000 $155,000 $158,500 $160,000 $163,000 $164,000 $165,000

1136 Ontario St 1144 Washington Blvd 1185 S Humphrey Ave 201 S Maple Ave 433 S East Ave 1048 S Euclid Ave 1021 Washington Blvd 938 North Blvd 809 Washington Blvd 1021 Washington Blvd 1166 S Cuyler Ave 222 N Marion St 818 Erie Ct 1040 Erie St 1123 Pleasant St 1184 S Highland Ave 224 S Oak Park Ave 631 Harvard St 429 Wisconsin Ave 429 Wisconsin Ave 200 Home Ave 421 S Kenilworth Ave 1040 Erie St 304 N Oak Park Ave 831 N Lombard Ave 312 S Maple Ave 918 S Taylor Ave 1135 Schneider Ave 332 N Taylor Ave 711 Washington Blvd 1020 Randolph St 821 N Harlem Ave 1011 S Elmwood Ave

$168,500 $170,000 $177,000 $177,500 $180,000 $180,000 $187,000 $187,500 $187,500 $195,000 $210,000 $210,000 $214,000 $225,000 $229,000 $230,000 $230,000 $230,000 $236,500 $242,000 $244,000 $250,000 $250,000 $256,000 $258,000 $265,000 $275,000 $280,000 $285,000 $287,500 $295,000 $314,500 $325,000

Gupta Samir K Anderson Dain Resse Karl A Childs Bette B Tr Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 8002372863 De Bluiff Daniel E Allen Nicole Y Haddad Jessie Carpenter Joshua Tomlinson Adriane J Fifth Third Bk Na Wismer Mark R Jkm Prop Inv And Mgmt Llc Series Marion Mason Alexander Oyih Hemi Dykes Petroux Hoang Huong Nga Ly Mcdaniel Antoinette Scully Pamela A Tr Xu Lin Wahlheim Ryan Brady Herrera Annabell Bonomo-Hardy Raiza Rafael Grandview Cap Llc Kopala Michael A Gentry David T Jones Marcile Bell Jennifer S Dykes Petroux Mcguire Meghan Goggin Michael M Shaffer-Myers Andrew Charles Boswell Theodore J Noh Ock-Ju Murphy Donna M Peterson Bertha J Tr Bleasdale Julie A Komai Kwaben Orourke Patrick Chapman Ron Wierbza Janice Trilling Lilia R Tr Foster Todd D Fannie Mae Larocca Suzanne G Holdings Tamabi

Goldhaber Sally W Air Investments Llc - Series 727 Maple 106 Mcmahon Jason Sheppard Ellen Mendez Omar Nguyen Tuyet Vi Soto Evaristo Kolar Wendy Kumar Rajeev Didier David S Oak Pk Real Cap Llc Reynolds Whitney Brose Parker Spaeth Steven M Ruiz Dak P Cobb Lataunda Crader Edward Gene Distefano Diana Est Blue Collar Artistry Llc Jantsch Peter A Molina Arie Nichols Anne M Tandon Ankita 1st Midwest Fin Inc Kadhem Zaynab Hamayotsu Kikue Doyle Susan M Brozek Anna Valle-Teutla Conrado Okraku Gustav H Larche Chicago Hasapis Anthony Edmunds Melanie S Potter Mallory Reed Alexandra Ln Jenkins Lewis Logins Arija Sanchez-Cortez Celene Jones Joseph Roler Katharine A Coleman Sylvia S Love Real Estate Solutions Llc Hawking Carol Jean Powell Cody Thomas Mario L Mcdougal Devin Joe

215 N. Elmwood Ave., Oak Park

ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

138 Francisco Ter 1026 S Taylor Ave 705 S Euclid Ave 933 Wisconsin Ave 328 N Cuyler Ave 116 S East Ave 114 Wright Ln 810 S Ridgeland Ave 1128 S Scoville Ave 906 S Austin Blvd 137 S Taylor Ave 817 S Taylor Ave 1115 N Oak Park Ave 1169 S Cuyler Ave 1100 S Harvey Ave 1025 Home Ave 224 S Lombard Ave 308 N Taylor Ave 128 N Lombard Ave 633 N Lombard Ave 510 S Humphrey Ave 948 N Lombard Ave 322 S Austin Blvd 1108 S Maple Ave 940 Gunderson Ave 325 N Grove Ave 1040 N Oak Park Ave 933 S Euclid Ave 1029 N Harlem Ave 810 S Maple Ave 206 N Marion St 330 N Humphrey Ave 904 N East Ave 1111 Thomas St 814 Gunderson Ave 646 N Lombard Ave 6249 North Ave 933 Ontario St 1212 Edmer Ave

$330,000 $335,500 $336,000 $340,000 $353,000 $360,000 $364,000 $384,000 $390,000 $399,000 $417,500 $425,000 $435,000 $440,000 $457,000 $458,000 $459,000 $465,000 $467,000 $468,000 $478,000 $480,000 $490,000 $490,000 $490,000 $496,500 $499,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,500 $505,000 $509,500 $510,000 $525,000 $530,000 $533,000 $535,000 $545,000 $549,000

Mills Sean G Hill Douglas A Eisenmann-Cabral Katherine Guerino Tasha Cogan Donald H Tr Smith Christopher S Roode Carl J Jr Harper Gregory Smith Andrew Lutz Jackson Willie Mae Gautier Olive I Tr Macey Sarah Ann Tr Arcpe 1 Llc Torres Amy L Floyd Patrick Quick Julie M Green Daniel Tr Kozlowski Marek Harper Monica Lenhoff Neal Tr Rios Paola Drohosky Mark D Michaud Christorher Murphy Sean J Martinez Cesar Nutt Robert Davidoff Noam Katz Douglas Thompson Mathew Rivera-Pierola Peter M Joseph Shawn Warczak Kyle Rossi Marvin Ellis Kittima N Schulz Nathan Porter Eugenides Alexander Cs & As Llc Morris Lawrence P Greene Suzanne S

Collins Bethany J Shepard Hannah Mather Southern Prop Llc Zenie Katelyn C Wardlow Damon A Socha Marie Obszanski Jennifer Welch Tyler John Igielski Pierce Leslie Fabicon Louis P Gibson Grant T Wittekind Van Castillo Shanna Joa Yuleidy Brusa Niccole Loesel Jessica Green Andrea Tr Deeb Rebecca Ann Law Lance Valdez Leonel Donaldson Katie Jordan Melissa Rivers Martin Major Pickens Jessica Egan Toussaint Buhrmester Jason S Datta Dipak Roche Kevin F Pacheco Jocely Gary Linette Velasco Edmund P Morparia Tarla Zdravkovic Aleksandar Villagrana Omare Carney Elizabeth C Ploeg Christopher J Eky Inv Grp Llc Williams Emma L Kochendorfer Brett

See PROPERTY TRANSFERS on page B12

December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B11

P R O P E R T Y

T R A N S F E R S

Continued from page B11

ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

ADDRESS

PRICE

$550,000 $565,000 $565,000 $570,000 $589,000 $590,000 $595,000 $610,000 $615,000 $627,000 $630,000 $635,000 $645,000 $645,000 $648,000 $650,000 $650,000 $655,000 $660,000 $660,000 $660,500 $663,000 $669,000 $670,000 $675,000 $70,000 $700,000 $706,000 $713,000 $715,000 $725,000 $755,000 $759,000 $765,000 $798,000 $815,000 $843,000 $849,000 $855,000 $875,000 $89,500 $911,000 $955,000

Harrison St Venture Llc Christian Elizabeth N Ellis Eric Hori Justin Pacynski Jason Underwood Denis Jacobs Theodore R Cash Stephen A Harris Phyllis V Patrick Victoria Klaubo Brandt Gary A Mcginnis Wesley R Cappel Jacob H Paradis Zachary Tr Gerbie Jody Lynn Cavanagh S Mark Gately Jonathan R Osorio Thomas J Wojtowicz Richard Tr Christie Jill Weinberg Jeremy Fuller Rhandahl A Gooch Crystal Wachter Brendon D Lewis Terrence M Peak Five Prop Llc Burton Blakely Obannon Tr Diskin James Pearah David Demyanyk Yuliya S Guen-Murray Theresa Carter Steven S Tr Gorham Jon Michael Mahoney Joshua W Goldman Stewart Johnston Pamela M Tr Medo Patricia Joiner Clark Rose Seasonne St Laurent Sandra Tr Farrell Peggy Ann Wilhite Brian C Conmy Christopher M Tr

Mosaic Real Estate Oak Pk Llc Mcmahon Colin Kirschner Alexandra Lotter Justin Illa Widilia S Perez Angel Kafka Carol A Tr Hart Alyssa J Mueller-Cochrane Joan Brima Junisa W Burden Jonathan R Fridberg Daniel Joseph Leahy Kevin Zihni Abdallah M Barky Kevin Rozkuszka David Elliott Donnelly Kaitlin Harbarger David Vuong Michaelia Fosses Robert Yann Nesbit Eric Gnilka John T Gentile Bryan J Tr Qiu Wei Porterfield Alan Phan Thi Truc My Manno David Mongiat Joseph James Tr Myhand Kristen N Crittle Tirman Michael Guitar Shane Culp Brian J Peckat Walter Iii Hagy Lindsay M Newsom Kedra N Jackola Glenn D Jr Brigida Peter Girdhar Anuj Molden Jeff Russo Patrick Pittman Mary Westapher Elisa Molitch-Hou Ethan

RIVER FOREST 806 Clinton Pl 1518 William St 620 Forest Ave 1106 Ashland Ave 1210 William St 947 Clinton Pl 1403 Lathrop Ave 7209 Division St 7318 Lake St 1100 N Harlem Ave 8043 Lake St

$1,050,000 $1,099,000 $1,100,000 $1,100,000 $1,150,000 $1,175,000 $1,350,000 $112,500 $129,000 $148,000 $155,000

Toppen Trevor A Tr Chicago Title Land Trust Co Simon Dave Bollenbacher Brian Cagnina James P Jr Lucci James Neubecker Lee Michael Calloway Yvonne Telichowska Monika Ceja Arturo Horvath Daniel J Tr Jr

BUYER

RIVER FOREST

OAK PARK 213 Harrison St 805 N Lombard Ave 1005 N Marion St 918 Belleforte Ave 527 N Ridgeland Ave 716 Columbian Ave 1196 S Kenilworth Ave 718 N Lombard Ave 1115 N Grove Ave 716 Clinton Ave 309 S Taylor Ave 815 N Taylor Ave 819 Forest Ave 1006 Gunderson Ave 645 N Lombard Ave 945 Wisconsin Ave 316 S Ridgeland Ave 534 Belleforte Ave 830 N Cuyler Ave 1118 N Grove Ave 929 Columbian Ave 1027 N Marion St 639 N Elmwood Ave 745 Woodbine Ave 726 S Kenilworth Ave 1309 N Harlem Ave 435 N Taylor Ave 1009 N Elmwood Ave 1219 Columbian Ave 916 Hayes Ave 800 Belleforte Ave 425 N Scoville Ave 311 N Harvey Ave 701 S Euclid Ave 923 N Marion St 323 S Grove Ave 138 S Grove Ave 133 S Grove Ave 1018 N Kenilworth Ave 1017 N Euclid Ave 415 S Maple Ave 611 N Elmwood Ave 326 Home Ave

SELLER

Reilly Jake P Harangody Tyler St Laurent Sandra Tr Transmontane Holdings Llc Moore Nathaniel Bhaumik Dulal K Powell Anthony Reposh Gregory Buford Stanley G Mcdonald Marco D Pipes Vita

B12 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

7320 Lake St 12 Franklin Ave 1419 Bonnie Brae Pl 424 Park Ave 410 Ashland Ave 218 Lathrop Ave 719 Park Ave 600 Clinton Pl 7206 Oak Ave 311 Gale Ave 1435 Park Ave 526 Ashland Ave 329 Park Ave 7416 Iowa St 1515 Franklin Ave 7206 Oak Ave 823 Franklin Ave 220 Franklin Ave 806 Jackson Ave 1443 Bonnie Brae Pl

$193,000 $220,000 $237,500 $242,500 $275,000 $385,000 $475,000 $590,000 $60,000 $660,000 $660,000 $700,000 $727,000 $730,000 $750,000 $77,500 $800,000 $835,000 $865,000 $975,000

Ayala Doris N Sincox Allan R Korcok Thomas J Lyons Lauretta Tarzynski Marguerite Casey Jennifer E Jacobs Alexander M Tr Roberts Craig Acosta William Walsh Harry C Weldon-Fegan Maureen Tr Barisik Vladimir 329 Pk Llc Simcox Richard Okrzesik Jason Novak Paul J Wells Kirstin E Levy Douglas M Tr Stoker Michael A Hall John G

Gonzalez Marcos Harvey Jeffrey Wang Lu Joanna Barisik Elizabeth Capp Vera Bennett Tyler Nickels Matthew D Schutt Ryan John Acosta Ricardo Stephany Michael J Jr Hlinak Matthew Castro Martin Raymond Moran Daniel F Keto Brian Metkari Shivangi O Blaisdell Samuel G Sweeney Birgit M Tr Alexander Kendall Castillo Joe Kim Kevin B

FOREST PARK 824 Beloit Ave 320 Circle Ave 7210 Jackson Blvd 205 Circle Ave 314 Lathrop Ave 7320 Dixon St 251 Marengo Ave 1104 Troost Ave 1038 Lathrop Ave 1007 Beloit Ave 140 Marengo Ave 1420 Marengo Ave 1118 Des Plaines Ave 438 Elgin Ave 7708 Harvard St 211 Elgin Ave 1109 Ferdinand Ave 47210 W Franklin St 7531 Brown Ave 7541 Brown Ave 1133 Ferdinand Ave 943 Lathrop Ave 844 Elgin Ave 222 Lathrop Ave 149 Elgin Ave 612 Beloit Ave 1009 Lathrop Ave 1122 Circle Ave 1118 Troost Ave 301 Elgin Ave 850 Des Plaines Ave 217 Des Plaines Ave 320 Circle Ave 7637 Jackson Blvd

$105,000 $115,000 $125,000 $130,000 $157,000 $160,000 $163,500 $185,000 $189,000 $200,000 $200,000 $205,000 $240,000 $250,000 $252,000 $265,000 $290,000 $294,500 $332,500 $339,000 $355,000 $358,500 $370,000 $389,500 $417,000 $422,000 $537,500 $541,000 $563,000 $600,000 $69,000 $712,000 $77,000 $95,000

Shepherd Sales Inc Rodriguez Juan C Pinyo-Nowlan Valaiporn Rolando Ross Coleman Frances M Roberson Darrell Anthony Schofield Tyler K Norman James E Parker Veronica Leigh Howes Michael Galbraith Dolores F Tr Furman Carole Washington David Petrey Shawn T Tr Dhawan Cecelia N Fletcher Brian Sherwin Christopher Smith-Allen Gwendolyn F Ames Eileen Monico Michael Cooper Barry Patricelli Diana Lathrop Holdings Llc Series D Weslow Ronald Dean Tr Carney Roy William John Daniels Zachary Austin Remdl Llc Mckerns Evan Grandberry Darius Scimeca Nicholas V State Bk Of Texas Ispas Luminita M Perinat Radinka Pabley Ashton Singh Est

Warrior Const Inc Doherty Agustina Reyes Justin Elpayaa Sarah Plaines Aretha Lorraine Meyer Susan A Jacobsen Steven B Cibrook Ltd Flores Rosa Maria Sobotka Danielle Butler Louis Cibrook Ltd Jones Jennifer Ann Galvan Rebecca L Pandey Shikhar Alanis Karen M Allen Boyce Schmitz John David Williams Arthur A Thompson Trevor Edward Baptiste Greg Eustaquio Jorge Albarto Garcia Imbordino Alyssa Thompson James Reisner John Nicholson Laura Bentz Daniel Villanueva Adrian Barnes Penelope Syed Burhan Mustafa Flipping Chicagoland Inc Marifov Ziiabiddin Chavez Jesus Snyder Matthew Steward

189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400

HomesInTheVillage.com

Featured Listings for This Week

Erika Villegas,

Oak Park $895,000 4BR, 2.1BA Patti x124

Chicago $329,900 3BR, 2BA Erika X180

Cicero $245,000 Multi unit Maria x117

Oak Park $450,000 4BR, 1.2 BA Erika x180

Berwyn $289,900 4BR, 2BA Maria x117

Chicago $220,000 3BR, 2BA Erika x180

Countryside $387,000 3BR, 3BA Maria x117

Forest Park $265,000 4BR, 1BA Patti x124

Chicago $150,000 1BR, 1BA Laurie x186

Chicago $370,000 3BR, 1.1BA Erika x180

Berwyn $254,900 3BR, 1BA Erika x180

Chicago $145,000 2BR, 1BA Erika x180

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Mike Becker

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Marion Digre

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December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B13

OA K PAR K-R I V ER F OR E ST

Community Foundation We envision a racially just and equitable society as the full inclusion of all people into a society in which everyone can participate, thrive and prosper.

In an equitable society, everyone, regardless of the circumstance of birth or upbringing, is treated justly and fairly by its institutions and systems.

We ask for your support to make this vision a reality.

Visit oprfcf.org to learn more.

B14 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Everything you need for a better world: • More Art

• More Food

• More Compassion

• More Health

• More Education

• More Housing

• More Equity

• More Peace

Browse, read, share with your children. Give Locally – Give Joyfully!

Animal Care League Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities.

With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery.

Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague.org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Austin Coming Together Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to facilitate the collective impact of 50+ members and hundreds of partners to improve the quality of life in Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. Recently, the pandemic made long-standing challenges even worse. But we mobilized resources to address growing needs, from food, laptop, or PPE distributions and vaccine access, to advocacy for racial equity.

Learn how Austin is leading efforts to move forward together, and how you can support, at AustinComingTogether.org/AustinCares.

Beyond Hunger Over the course of the pandemic, meeting the emergency food needs of our community hasn’t been simple. We now serve people safely with a drive thru food pantry, a scaled-down socially distant food pantry inside First United Church, an off-site pop-up “Despensa” serving vulnerable immigrant families, and a vastly expanded Home Delivery program for older adults and people with disabilities. For over 40 years Beyond Hunger has been creating solutions to end hunger at every stage of life - we know it takes all of us. With your support we can make sure no one goes hungry this winter. Every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day.

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

D97 PTO Council

The Collaboration for Early Childhood embraces the vision that all children should arrive at kindergarten safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

In 2022, we will turn twenty, and we invite you to help us celebrate this two-decade-long community effort to ensure that every child thrives. This year, we safely administered over 700 hearing and vision screenings to young children, granted 1,099 professional development hours to early childhood educators with a focus on mindfulness and trauma informed practices, and gave 65 baby bundles to new and prenatal moms and parents in our community.

To learn more about our impact, or to make a donation, please visit us at www.collab4kids. org and follow us on social media.

BUILD Since 1969, BUILD has helped Chicago’s most vulnerable youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders in their communities. These young people face enormous obstacles and trauma, so we surround them with the counseling, mentoring, training, and opportunities they need to build a future and succeed. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school and college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering and gardening.

Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

Join us in BUILDing a better future.

Visit www.buildchicago.org.Celebrating

Seniors Coalition

Concordia University Chicago Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago has equipped students to serve and lead with integrity and compassion. Concordia-Chicago is a Christ-centered Lutheran university where truth, freedom, and vocation form students for lives of influence and service for the common good. Historically a college for teachers, we now offer more than 100 areas of study through traditional, blended or online classes.

Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree through one of four colleges: the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health, Science & Technology, and the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities.

This year, all ten D97 PTOs in partnership with PTOC’s Diversity Council, DIVCO, an organization focused on driving equity imperatives within schools, have committed to becoming communities of care. This initiative has driven the creation of “angel funds” for each school community to serve their financially vulnerable students and families with school supplies, field trip money, snacks, graduation yearbooks and gowns, spirit wear, books, tutoring and more. In order to fulfil this need, PTOs depend on tax deductible donations from community members like you. Donate to your neighborhood school and give all Oak Park public school students an opportunity to thrive regardless of income.

• Julian: julianpto.org/Donate-to-the-PTO. php • Brooks: sites.google.com/view/ brooksptooakparkdonations/home • Longfellow: lpto.betterworld.org/donate • Lincoln: paypal.com/paypalme/ ptolincoln?locale.x=en_US • Holmes: mightycause.com/story/3e623g • Irving: washington-irving-pto-2.square. site/#uDWtwZ • Whittier: whittierpto.membershiptoolkit. com/ • Beye Please send a check to the school c/o of Beye PTO • Mann: paypal.com/donate/?hosted_ button_id=EYUYPNXB3ZWVU • Hatch: hatchpto.org/

To learn more, please visit CUChicago.edu or CUChicago.edu/GiveNow to support our students.

December 15, 2021 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

B15

The Joyful Giving Catalog The Day Nursery

Since 1912, The Day Nursery has provided exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. You can help lay the foundation today for successful adults tomorrow.

To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org 1139 Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302 708.383.8211 - Fax: 708.383.0692 Email: info@thedaynursery.org - www.thedaynursery.org

Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park A United Way Community Partner/NAEYC Accredited

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is a non-profit 501(c)(3) literary arts and educational foundation dedicated to thoughtful reading and writing. The foundation offers a wide variety of programming, all open to the public, to nurture and encourage creative expression for students and for people of all ages. Through tours and exhibits at Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace museum, the foundation fosters an understanding of his life and work, his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Your gift supports creative outlets for people of all ages through professional teacher development, local author and performing artist programs, inter-generational engagement, a writer-in-residence program, as well as student writing workshops, mentorships, and scholarships.

For more information about us or to donate online go to hemingwaybirthplace.com or mail us at: Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, P.O. Box 2222, Oak Park, IL 603032222.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Inspiring tomorrow’s architects today, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust continues the long road to recovery, steadfast in our mission to preserve an Oak Park treasure. Through the stewardship of the Home & Studio, the Trust provides a source of community pride and inspiration.

While enhancing the vitality of Oak Park and the western suburbs of Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy is upheld through the Trust’s educational programming. Enduring the global pandemic, we are thrilled for the opportunity to welcome back in-person education programs and tours.

To learn more or donate, go to flwright.org 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory The Oak Park Conservatory began as a community effort to house exotic plants residents collected during their travels abroad. Completed in 1929, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory offers a rich atmosphere throughout three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory.

Toddlers through adults can participate in year-round educational and recreational programs, volunteer opportunities and special events.

To learn more or to join, visit fopcon.org.

Growing Community Media Growing Community Media connects citizens through community journalism rooted deep in our neighborhoods, based in facts, and reflective of voices not always heard. Through Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Growing Community Media reports local news and tells compelling local stories across a variety of platforms. We believe that high quality community journalism preserves and strengthens the fabric of our democracy.

Independent community journalism holds local governments and institutions to account.

It connects neighbors. It is the credible information source when social media goes haywire, and it allows a community to debate and celebrate.

Support local news and protect our democracy at growingcommunitymedia.org/ donate.

Hephzibah Children’s Association Hephzibah is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and struggling families.

Oak Park’s oldest social service agency, Hephzibah is the only program in Illinois designated to care for the most severe cases of abuse and neglect of young children ages 3-11. Hephzibah Home provides comprehensive, therapeutic care for traumatized young children. Our Family Based Program supports more than 100 foster care children and stabilizes 150 families in crisis. Our Day Care Program delivers quality, affordable day care and summer camp programming for elementary school children in Oak Park.

Make a difference at hephzibahhome.org.

B16 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ December 15, 2021

Historical Society Forest Park The Historical Society of Forest Park was founded in 1975 to collect, preserve and share the rich heritage of Forest Park.

Through history we explore the past to understand the present and shape the future. The historical society offers several virtual tours on our website including Forest Park Amusement Park, Bloomer Girls, Veteran History, Haymarket Marty’s Monument in Forest Home, Cemetery Symbolism and others.

In addition, there are several programs including a Garden Walk, Prohibition Event, History Hangouts, bicycle tours and weekly lookbacks to bring history to the community throughout the year.

Visit ForestParkHistory.org to learn more about the events, programs or to donate.

Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest We are the community’s story tellers who make history relevant in tangible ways that positively impact today’s residents. We operate Oak Park River Forest Museum in an 1898 Oak Park Landmark at Lake and Lombard next to Stevenson Park. We invested $1 million in private funds to create a welcoming space in a former firehouse.

Exhibits include “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing.” We are not supported by tax dollars and a gift of any amount funds our 2022 activities, our research center, and knowledgeable staff.

Learn more and donate at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755.

Housing Forward Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness. We believe in bold, comprehensive approaches to prevent homelessness whenever possible, to respond to housing crises, and to stabilize individuals and families through permanent housing. We offer wraparound services including case management, housing, outreach, employment, and emergency assistance. Last year, we served nearly 2,000 adults and families. Our new Interim Housing Program provides clients a path to permanent housing; Interim Housing sites include units dedicated to medical respite. Housing Forward also has programs that specifically address the housing needs of families, youth, and veterans.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit housingforward.org, email development@ housingforward.org, or call 708-338-1724.

IWS Children’s Clinic Help us care for the whole child and create greater health equity!

At the OPRF Infant Welfare Society and IWS Children’s Clinic, we serve publicly insured/uninsured children and their whole health needs: sick visits, critical vaccines including COVID-19, behavioral health services, and dental care, including for children with special needs. We treat more than 3,400 area children each year, including Oak Park, Chicago, Berwyn, Cicero and beyond.

Support the whole health needs of children in our community today! $25 provides a mental health screening, $50 provides two vaccines, $100 provides a preventive dental cleaning.

Visit childrenscliniciws.org/donate or call 708-406-8661.

L’Arche Chicago L’Arche Chicago provides high quality care in community-integrated homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in the OPRF area. Our mission is lived through daily life shared in mutuality: afternoon walks to the park, doctor’s appointments, and dinner parties. Moreover, L’Arche is committed to life together in a way that welcomes difference. As our society seems increasingly fearful of difference, L’Arche offers a counter story: that the differences so often keeping people apart can become the substance of joyful and transformative relationships.

Make a needed local impact through our people and mission at https://lc.app. neoncrm.com/np/clients/lc/donation.jsp

Maywood Fine Arts Equity in the arts is the driving force behind Maywood Fine Arts’ programs and people. Access to affordable, quality instruction in arts and fitness cannot be taken for granted among families MFA serves from nearby, under-resourced communities such as Maywood, Bellwood, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. MFA serves about 800 students ages 4 to 18 per week, the majority of whom are young people of color.

Families count on MFA’s safe, nurturing out-of-school time environment where children learn and expand their world view.

To donate, visit maywoodfinearts.org or send checks payable to Maywood Fine Arts, 25 N 5th Ave, Maywood , IL 60153.

Sponsored Content

Investing Through a Social Responsibility Lens

By Tony Martinez, Jr., president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

A

s part of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation’s commitment to racial equity, we have begun to deeply evaluate all areas of our work, including our investment portfolio. How we invest makes a difference in people’s lives — not only is there an impact on the community in terms of how dollars are given, but also how those dollars are grown and put to work as part of our shared economy.

Community foundations like ours use long-term investments in stock and bond funds to grow our collective assets. This increases the money we provide each year to our grantees in support of our mission, and secures the lasting legacy of our community’s philanthropic goals.

However, rather than solely focusing on maximizing returns, as stewards of our donors’ philanthropic dollars we have a responsibility to take steps to ensure our investments do not perpetuate the systemic inequalities that we are fighting against.

Starting this summer, our investment

committee began to align the Foundation’s investments with its mission to advance racially just and equitable outcomes for our region.

Our risk-adjusted return targets remain the same, but now 40 percent of our assets are invested in stock and bond funds that practice sustainable investing. Also known as responsible or impact investing, sustainable investing is an investment discipline that takes into account environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) outcomes while delivering competitive results.

“Sustainable funds address racial equity by scrutinizing public companies’ workplace diversity, equity and inclusion policies; board Tony Martinez, Jr., president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation with Program Director diversity; the overall treatment Elizabeth Chadri (photo by Carrie Summy) of workers; negative impacts of products and services on Black sustainable fund portfolios. Think of it as percent sustainable investments. communities; and political expenditures,” investing that’s not just focused on profits, By aligning our investments with our says Jon Hale, global head of sustainability but on people, planet and profits.” mission, the Foundation is making every research at Morningstar and a member Forty percent is just the start. As we move philanthropic dollar work twice as hard of the Foundation’s board of directors. forward we will continue to grow that to create a better, more just and equitable “Companies with poor performance on percentage, with an ultimate goal of 100 society. racial equity issues are to be avoided in

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation • (708) 848-1560 • www.oprfcf.org

The Joyful Giving Catalog Maywood Youth Mentoring Program Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to high-school youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, field trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride.

Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management and conflict resolution, etiquette, police/community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youths, providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and incentives for participation.

To volunteer, or to donate, visit us at maywoodyouthmentoring.org, or contact Barbara Cole, founder/CEO at 708-344-3577.

Nehemiah Community Project (NCP) Since 2017, the Nehemiah Community Project (NCP) has provided an array of services in the Maywood Proviso Township community. Community violence, scare resources and unemployment have a particularly negative impact on residents. NCP addresses the mental health/well-being and other service needs of youth and young adult men, providing tools to help them move forward in their lives.

Programs include: •

En-Game: Men’s support group to problem-solve, receive affirmation and deal with life’s challenges.

•

T.A.C.T.(Trauma Awareness Capacity Training): Provides awareness, coping skills and resources for those who have experienced trauma.

Learn more at thenehemiahcommunityproject.org.

New Moms

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

New Moms’ mission is to strengthen families by partnering with young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. We believe in the strength, skills, and potential of all families and envision a future where all young moms and their children thrive! Coaches in our housing, job training, and family support programs partner with moms, 24 and under, to decrease stress, build social connections, and set and track personalized goals.

Together with their coach, moms build the foundations of long-term well-being for their families and communities.

Join us in this essential work!

Visit newmoms.org/donate.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local non-profits, who account for 80% of its usage.

We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in five areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The Nineteenth Century is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the building. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join.

If you would like information about volunteering, joining or donating, please call us at 708-386-2729 email to info@ nineteenthcentury.org. You can also make donation at nineteenthcentury.org.

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The Joyful Giving Catalog Oak Park Art League

Oak Park Public Library

Celebrating its centennial in 2021, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest, continually running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. OPAL is a vibrant cultural center where the invitation and challenge to use art as a medium for personal and community growth is made available to people of all ages. Since 1921, OPAL has brought arts education, appreciation, exhibitions, and the spirit of artistic inquiry to the surrounding community. OPAL is committed to meaningful outreach to the population that makes up our greater community through partnerships and on-site arts programming & collaborations with other non-profit organizations.

For more information about membership, volunteering, or to make a donation, please contact Executive Director, Jill Kramer Goldstein at 708-386-9853 or director@ oakparkartleague.org. The Oak Park Art League is located at 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

Oak Park Festival Theatre Since 1975 Oak Park Festival Theatre, the Midwest’s oldest professional outdoor classical theatre, has brought the magic of the classics right to your backyard. Whether performing under the stars in beautiful Austin Gardens as we do each summer or at any of the many local venues where we partner with local philanthropic agencies (such as Housing Forward, Oak Park Housing Authority or Nineteenth Century Charitable Association), Festival Theatre breathes fresh air into timeless texts for Oak Park and beyond.

With ticket prices kept friendly for every budget and free admission for all under 13, we rely on the generosity of our audiences to continue our dynamic community dialogue.

Donations can be made on-line at oakparkfestival.com/donate or mailed to us: Oak Park Festival Theatre, P.O. Box 4114, Oak Park, IL 60303.

Give to empower every voice in our community.

Invest in Oak Park’s future. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation manages eight endowment funds for the Oak Park Public Library. Monetary donations are tax deductible. Giving supports work dedicated to literacy, education, diversity, inclusion, equity, health, safety, and affordability. Your generosity connects people and community, educates global citizens, and sustains, shares, and respects Oak Park’s community’s resources.

Choose the fund that means the most to you at oppl.org/give. Or contact Executive Director David J. Seleb at davids@oppl.org and 708-697-6911.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC) For more than four decades, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC) has been an advocate for fair housing. Our mission is to achieve vibrant communities and promote intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park. The OPRHC is the only non-profit in Oak Park and the Greater Westside Region that encourages pro-integrative housing options.

Our work is at the heart of why Oak Park is such a wonderful, diverse, and vibrant community, welcoming to everyone.

Support our work with a donation at oprhc. org/donate. To learn more about the OPRHC call 708.848.7150, inforequest@ liveinoakpark.com, 1041 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302.

Joyful Giving

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

The mission of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is to unite community members and mobilize resources to advance a racially just society and equitable outcomes for residents of Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities. We envision a racially just and equitable society as the full inclusion of all people into a society in which everyone can participate, thrive and prosper.

In an equitable society, everyone, regardless of the circumstance of birth or upbringing, is treated justly and fairly by its institutions and systems.

Visit oprfcf.org to learn more about our services to donors, scholars, and nonprofits.

One Earth Collective One Earth curates vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet. We focus our work in 3 areas - One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Youth Voices, and One Earth Local. One Earth Film Fest’s 11th season will take place March 4-13, 2022. We’re excited to welcome Chicagoland audiences back live, in addition to our virtual screenings. Join us for captivating films, engaging discussion, impactful action opportunities and community-building.

Memberships start at $25.

Learn more and donate at oneearthfilmfest.org/give.

Opportunity Knocks Opportunity Knocks was established in 2009 to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they live, work, learn, grow and connect within their community. OK offers a person-centered and highly-flexible curriculum, enabling participants to be equal architects in the development of program content. As we solidify our post-pandemic offerings, we look forward to continuing the residential component of the OK mission and other future endeavors. We are 95% privately funded and rely on the generous support of the community. Your gift is integral in moving our mission forward by offering unique opportunities for these young adults.

Visit opportunityknocksnow.org.

PeopleCare,Inc. PeopleCare,Inc., is a local nonprofit that provides free transportation, friendly visitors, telephone reassurance, subsidized taxi voucher program, weekly group grocery shopping, and referrals for seniors in Riverside, North Riverside, Brookfield, Lyons, and LaGrange Park. We are passionately committed to our original vision that “no older person in the last third of life will feel abandoned and will be able to live out their life in the most productive way.” We are the safety net for those with no family close by and who no longer drive.

To donate, learn more, or volunteer visit www.peoplecareinc.org or call 708-442-1223

Share these listings with your children and make family giving a tradition.

You can also visit OakPark.com and go to our Season of Giving page.

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The Joyful Giving Catalog PING! PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) makes equitable access to instrumental music possible for students in need in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest public schools.

PING! provides band and orchestra instruments as well as music enrichment through workshops; mentoring; and scholarships for music camps, trips, and instruction. Studies show that there are academic and social benefits to participating in a music program.

To give our youngest students the best start, PING! is offering music lessons to our 4th and 5th graders, a program implemented during the pandemic to keep them engaged.

For more information, or to make a donation, please visit our website at pingoprf.org. Have an instrument to donate?

Send us an email at info@pingoprf.org.

Pro Bono Network We believe access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney.

There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of civil legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, critical care documents, and more. Pro Bono Network has enabled 400+ attorneys to give more than 25,000 hours of free legal assistance to over 4,500 clients whose lives were meaningfully changed. Let’s together transform lives by increasing access to legal representation.

To get involved or donate, visit pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make an impact on the lives of many!

The Quinn Center of St. Eulalia Eleven years after its founding, the Quinn Center stands by its mission to build an inclusive culture of justice, health, and peace in Proviso Township. We inspire, educate, and empower through relationship building while confronting intersecting social problems and filling resource gaps to address social determinants of health. Today, year-round programming is available for over 1,000 community members at low or no cost. From youth enrichment to hunger ministry to senior social activities, we offer something for the whole family and work to create a safe space where neighbors can find connection and belonging.

Race Conscious Dialogues

Sarah’s Inn

RACE CONSCIOUS DIALOGUES The Race Conscious Dialogues are designed The Race Conscious Dialogues are designed for people who are white to deepen their awareness of identity, power and privilege,and then develop tools for anti-racism work. The foundational workshop series consists of 4 sessions, 3 hours each, with light readings to be done in preparation. This volunteer-based nonprofit was intentionally created for our community of Oak Park and surrounding areas.

All discussions, readings and activities are framed around unpacking and understanding Whiteness – our own racial identities, the historical and current harm being caused by Whiteness, and guided discovery of how we show up and work collectively to eradicate racism. We invite your participation!

Donations are appreciated as well raceconsciousdialogues.org/donate.

River Forest Public Library Foundation

RFPL Foundation helps ensure the on-going vitality of the River Forest Public Library. Your gift will help preserve our historic building and continue our high-quality services and programs while preparing for future needs. Grants from the Foundation have enabled RFPL to refresh the Children’s Room and Teen space, maintain and beautify the Memorial Garden, offer community events like The Dooleys Band concert, explore the feasibility of creating additional indoor space for meetings and programs, expand self-checkout service and more.

Your help ensures our Library continues to live at the heart and soul of our community.

St. Angela School

Sarah’s Inn is a community-based organization whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations.

Based in Forest Park, we offer services in three areas of program focus: Intervention for families affected by domestic violence that includes Advocacy and Counseling; Prevention education for youth to prevent future relationship violence; and Training and Education for professional first-responders, prospective volunteers and interns, and community-based groups. Intervention services are confidential, bilingual (English/ Spanish) and offered free of charge to survivors and their children.

Learn more and donate at sarahsinn.org.

SisterHouse Founded in 1982 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, SisterHouse educates and empowers women to lead sober and fulfilling lives by providing a safe and structured spiritual living community.

Each successful and resilient woman is reaching towards her full potential by growing in self-awareness, self-respect and forgiveness, learning to embrace self and others, while building healthy relationships. She learns not only how to maintain sobriety, internalizing the 12 steps and building a support system, but also how to thrive in life. Each SisterHouse woman secures quality employment and stable housing. She makes plans for her future and acquires the skills, knowledge, and abilities to realize her dreams.

St. Angela School has walked with the families of Chicago’s west side for one hundred years—walked with a deep commitment to enriching the lives, and the futures, of their children. We have a rich and varied history – and a future of great promise. We provide our children with a safe and loving environment and challenging academics; we help them explore paths that lead to meaningful and rewarding careers; and we teach them, above all, to believe in themselves. As we prepare for our next hundred years, we’re proud to reaffirm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community.

Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 626-2655.

Sweet Rest Since its 2017 inception, Sweet Rest has provided various forms of sabbaticals for Black Women throughout the country. Moreover, Sweet Rest is working to grow into a social investment that creates sustainability for Black Women entrepreneurs, while contributing to the greater good of providing rest and magnifying the need and capacity of wanderlust for Black Women and other women of color.

To support this initiative and to give the gift of sweet rest, please visit Sweetrest.net.

For more information or to donate go to sisterhousechicago.org.

Please donate at rfplfoundation.org.

Joyful Giving

Make an impact in your own community.

Learn more at quinncenter.org.

You can also visit OakPark.com and go to our Season of Giving page.

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The Joyful Giving Catalog The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Awarded “Community Relations Orchestra of the Year” in 2021, The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest, under the leadership of award-winning conductor Jay Friedman, continues to bring extraordinary and accessible concerts to our community.

Ticket sales provide less than half the funds needed for the Symphony’s performances.

Your gift keeps the orchestra going strong and allows us to maintain affordable ticket prices, including free admission for all students through college. Please help us continue and strengthen our 90-year tradition of bringing beautiful and inspiring music to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and neighboring communities.

Make your end-of-year tax-deductible donation at SymphonyOPRF.org, or: P.O. Box 3564, Oak Park, IL 60303-3564.

Thrive Counseling Center Thrive Counseling Center has provided mental health services for over 120 years. Our mission is to build healthy minds, families, and communities by empowering people to attain mental and emotional well-being. Hope, resilience, and recovery form the heart of our programs and services. Thrive’s services for youth and adults include: • Individual therapy • Group therapy

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children. Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities.

Make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin.org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304.

Way Back Inn Since 1974, Way Back Inn has successfully provided long-term residential and outpatient treatment for men and women in Oak Park and surrounding communities who are trying to overcome substance and gambling use disorders. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment, where men and women’s lives are transformed and relationships are healed. Our recovery program focuses on the integration of the body, mind, and spirit.

For more information or to make a donation, go to: www.waybackinn.org or call us at 708345-8422.

• Psychiatry and medication management • 24/7 Crisis intervention • Case management • Suicide awareness and prevention training • Thrive Talks We are open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday from 9am2pm. To learn more or donate, please visit thrivecc.org or call 708-383-7500.

Joyful Giving

West Suburban Special Recreation Association West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest and nine other surrounding communities.

Donations to WSSRA, help provide financial assistance to those participating in our yearround programs and summer day camp. To make a donation, please visit wssra.net.

Welcome to Fatherhood Welcome to Fatherhood Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization created by Dr. Raheem Young and Sir Royce Briales. Our goal is to help fathers of all ages cope with the pressures and stresses of fatherhood. We formed Welcome to Fatherhood to provide all dads with a forum to discuss the ups and downs of their parenting journey with other men. Welcome to Fatherhood’s mission is to strengthen the family unit by empowering fathers and educating them on the importance of positive, active, and engaged paternal role models.

For more information on Welcome to Fatherhood, please visit our website at wtfatherhood.org.

Wonder Works For nearly 20 years, children in Oak Park and our surrounding communities have been learning through PLAY in the safe, enriching environment of Wonder Works Children’s Museum. We put great care into creating a child-sized environment, for children birth to 8, designed to spark curiosity, creativity and learning in the areas of science, math, literacy and the arts.

Your donations support free and reduced-price admissions for families in financial need, exhibit improvements, one-of-a-kind programs and so much more! Please join us along our exciting path to learning.

Visit www.wonder-works.org and donatetoday to support the power of PLAY!

Youth Outreach Services Youth Outreach Services supports youth ages 12 to 21 and their families, by providing free programs that offer therapeutic interventions, life skills development, and mentorship to improve their safety and well-being. For more than 60 years, YOS has offered community-based behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, after school mentoring, family therapy, crisis intervention, case management, foster care, transitional living and housing services, in-school prevention curricula, and juvenile justice programs.

Help youth get one step closer to reaching their goals, by donating at www.yos.org/ donate or text @ONESTEPCLOSER to 52014.

To help a youth in need right now, call 773777-7112.

Discover and Give to a new organization this year.

You can also visit OakPark.com and go to our Season of Giving page.

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